Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina made the semifinals of the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Latvian Jelena Ostapenko on Tuesday. The 22nd seed passed the first Roland-Garros champion, yielding 17, in 1h19 at the Rod Laver Arena and will meet American Jessica Pegula or Belarusian Victoria Azarenka for the last place. "I am very happy to be in the first semi-final," said the Kazakh star. "It's an incredible atmosphere."

Rybakina said "she can beat anybody" after knocking out top seed Iga Swiatek in straight sets on Sunday. She was also quick on the back of her big serve, breaking Ostapenko straightaway and hitting three aces to make it 3-1.

He created another break point at 30-40 when heavy rain stopped the power of the 22nd seed. Fans were evacuated from Rod Laver Arena after the roof was closed and water was rising.

After almost half a time delay, Ostapenko saw the danger now. But she couldn't stop the aggressive Rybakina from taking a second break two points later.

Rybakina's serve took her out of the next hurdle at 15-40 and closed out the first set in 32 minutes.

Ostapenko increased her ground power early in the second set, breaking 2-0 with a screamer. But a calm Rybakina converted and saved four more break points in the next set at 2-2.

Rybakina hit again in another Ostapenko service game to put the finish line in sight. At 6-5 on serve for the match, the always confident Russian-born Kazakh saw two match points saved before his 11th round ended his breakthrough.

"Of course I was nervous especially in the last game but not as nervous as before the match," she said. "So I'm super happy that I managed my emotions and I played really well today."

Ostapenko has won her previous two meetings - the last in Eastbourne in 2021 - and is in her first Australian Open final.

The 25-year-old has been working his way to the top after admitting he struggled to cope at 19 when his life was changed by winning the French Open. After beating Coco Gauff in the fourth round, he said his confidence has returned and he has "no doubt" that he has the ability and desire to win another Grand Slam.

But Rybakina is unstoppable as she chases her second Grand Slam crown in six months after winning on grass at Wimbledon last July.