Day 11 Highlights: Catch Up Quickly on AO 2026 Action
Day 11 of the Australian Open 2026 brought excitement and unexpected outcomes across the men’s and women’s draws. Novak Djokovic continued his pursuit of history while several seeds faced surprising exits. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the key moments and statistics from the day’s action.
Men’s Singles Highlights
Novak Djokovic advanced to the semifinals, marking his 13th appearance at this stage in Melbourne. This achievement was coupled with a significant milestone: Djokovic now holds the record for most match wins at the Australian Open, with 103 victories, surpassing Roger Federer.
Djokovic’s advancement came after his fourth-round opponent, Jakub Mensik, withdrew due to injury. In the quarterfinals, he faced Lorenzo Musetti, who was leading by two sets but had to retire due to a right groin injury while Djokovic led 3-1 in the third set. Musetti expressed deep disappointment, stating, “I honestly have no words to describe how I’m feeling right now.”
Looking ahead, Djokovic will meet two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner, who defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Sinner acknowledged the challenge of Djokovic’s serve, stating, “I felt like I returned great today,” reflecting on his 19th consecutive Australian Open victory.
Women’s Singles Upsets
In a surprising turn, both higher-seeded players in the quarterfinals bowed out. Elena Rybakina, ranked fifth and former Wimbledon champion, triumphed over second seed Iga Swiatek with a score of 7-5, 6-1. This result dashed Swiatek’s hopes for her first Australian Open title.
Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula secured her first Australian Open semifinal and third overall Grand Slam semifinal by edging past fourth seed Amanda Anisimova. Pegula rallied from a 5-3 deficit in the second set to win 6-2, 7-6 (1). She emphasized her mental toughness and experience as contributors to her success in high-pressure situations.
Men’s and Women’s Doubles Updates
Men’s Doubles
- Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos moved to the men’s doubles semifinals after a 6-3, 6-4 victory against Rafael Matos and Orlando Luz.
- This duo seeks their third Grand Slam title in four majors.
Women’s Doubles
- A surprising upset occurred in the women’s doubles quarterfinals, where defending champions Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend lost 6-0 in the deciding set to Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic.
Upcoming Finals
The mixed doubles final is set to feature Australian wildcards John Peers and Olivia Gadecki, who will compete against the French pair Manuel Guinard and Kristina Mladenovic on Friday.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the unfolding drama, especially as top players strive for Grand Slam glory in Melbourne.
