Victoria Mboko delivered the upset of the day at the Adelaide International, ending Madison Keys' title defense with a gutsy 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory to reach the semifinals. The 19-year-old Canadian weathered her third consecutive three-set battle this week, outlasting the reigning Australian Open champion after nearly two hours on court. Meanwhile, Mirra Andreeva produced the most dominant performance of the quarterfinals, dismantling Maya Joint 6-2, 6-0 in ruthless fashion.
Mboko ends Keys' championship defense
Victoria Mboko continued her breakout start to 2026, stunning defending champion Madison Keys to reach her first WTA 500 semifinal. The Canadian teenager showed remarkable composure after losing the second set, immediately seizing control of the decider. From a set and a break ahead initially, Mboko watched her advantage evaporate as Keys found her rhythm in the middle stages. But when it mattered most, the youngster delivered five consecutive games to close out the match. Keys struggled with consistency throughout, committing 41 unforced errors and facing constant break point pressure. Mboko capitalized brilliantly on return, converting 6 of 12 break chances while winning 16 of 32 return pressure points. The victory marked just the second top 10 win of Mboko's young career and sent her into the Adelaide semifinals after three grueling three-set encounters this week.
Andreeva delivers statement performance
Mirra Andreeva produced a masterclass in aggressive tennis, demolishing Maya Joint in just over an hour of play. The Russian eighth seed was relentless from the baseline, breaking serve six times while dropping her own just once. Joint had no answers for Andreeva's power and precision, particularly in a brutal second set where she managed to win just two games. The 17-year-old's serve was equally impressive, winning 72% of first serve points and converting an outstanding 6 of 11 break opportunities. Most telling was Andreeva's dominance in pressure moments - she won 17 of 31 return pressure points while maintaining her composure on serve throughout. The comprehensive victory showcased exactly why many consider Andreeva one of the most promising talents in women's tennis, and she'll enter the semifinals full of confidence.
Shnaider finds form with new coach
Diana Shnaider continued her promising start under new coach Sascha Bajin, defeating Emma Navarro 6-3, 6-3 to reach the Adelaide semifinals. After a disappointing 2025 campaign that saw her slip outside the top 20, Shnaider appears to have rediscovered her composure with the former coach of Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. The 21-year-old Russian was clinical on serve, winning 73% of first serve points and saving 3 of 4 break points faced. Her improved mental fortitude was evident in pressure situations, where she won 15 of 19 serve pressure points while staying aggressive on return with 9 of 20 return pressure points won. The straight-sets victory marked a significant step forward for Shnaider as she looks to rebuild momentum following a turbulent year with multiple coaching changes.
Birrell rallies past Cristian
Australian Kimberly Birrell produced a gutsy comeback to defeat Jaqueline Cristian 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 in a thrilling three-set encounter. The world No. 107 looked in serious trouble after dropping the opening set, but completely turned the match around with a dominant second set performance. The deciding set became a test of nerves, with both players struggling on serve - Birrell faced 10 break points but saved half of them when it mattered most. Despite eight double faults, the Australian's fighting spirit shone through as she won 19 of 32 serve pressure points and stayed patient on return with 22 of 47 return pressure points won. The victory represented one of Birrell's best results in recent months and a significant upset over the higher-ranked Romanian.
Ruzic advances in Hobart
Antonia Ruzic secured her spot in the Hobart semifinals with a solid 6-3, 6-3 victory over Olga Danilovic. The Croatian showed excellent defensive skills throughout the match, saving 11 of 13 break points faced while converting 5 of 9 break opportunities. Ruzic's ability to handle pressure was crucial in the victory, as she won 23 of 35 serve pressure points to maintain control of her service games. Though she struggled at times with consistency, committing four double faults, her superior return game proved decisive in securing breaks at key moments. The win sets up a semifinal appearance for Ruzic in what has been an encouraging week in Tasmania.
The Adelaide semifinals will feature Mboko against Andreeva in what promises to be a fascinating clash between rising stars, while Shnaider faces her remaining opponent. In Hobart, Ruzic advances to face the winner of the remaining quarterfinal matches as players continue their Australian Open preparations.
Looking ahead to Friday's semifinals
Friday's WTA action centers on Adelaide, where world No. 8 Mirra Andreeva faces No. 23 Diana Shnaider in an intriguing all-Russian semifinal. The day also features another Adelaide semifinal between rising star Victoria Mboko and local hope Kimberly Birrell, while Hobart's semifinals see Elisabetta Cocciaretto taking on Antonia Ruzic. Three fascinating semifinal clashes promise to deliver compelling hard court tennis across both tournaments.
Russian rivals clash in Adelaide semifinal
The marquee match features two of Russia's brightest talents as Andreeva seeks to extend her head-to-head advantage over Shnaider. The world No. 8 won their only previous meeting in Brisbane back in December 2023, but both players have evolved significantly since then. Andreeva brings superior hard court credentials with a 24-9 record (72.7%) over the past 12 months, compared to Shnaider's 18-15 mark (54.5%).
The statistical battle reveals contrasting strengths. Andreeva's serve carries more firepower with 3.8 aces per match and wins 68.4% of first serve points, giving her a significant edge in service games. However, Shnaider has found her rhythm recently, riding a three-match winning streak into this semifinal. Her pressure point statistics show she converts 45.2% of break point opportunities when returning, suggesting she can capitalize if Andreeva's 4.3 double faults per match creep into her service games.
The key factor may be tiebreak experience, where Andreeva holds a decisive advantage at 62.5% compared to Shnaider's concerning 41.2% record. With both players capable of holding serve consistently, any close sets could hinge on these crucial moments. Andreeva's superior ranking and hard court form make her the favorite, but Shnaider's current momentum and return pressure capabilities keep this matchup fascinating.
Local favorite faces top-20 test
Australian hopes rest with Birrell as she attempts to overcome a significant ranking gap against world No. 17 Mboko. The Montreal meeting in July 2025 saw Mboko claim their only previous encounter, and the statistical profile suggests another challenging assignment for the local wildcard. Mboko's 20-8 hard court record (71.4%) over the past year dwarfs Birrell's 13-12 mark, highlighting the quality difference between these players.
Mboko's serving prowess could prove decisive, averaging 5.2 aces per match while winning 66.9% of first serve points. Her ability to save 60.2% of break points under pressure demonstrates the composure expected from a top-20 player. Birrell's challenge is compounded by her own service vulnerabilities - 6.1 double faults per match and just 46.6% of break points saved represent clear areas Mboko can exploit.
However, Birrell carries the momentum of an 8-2 record in her last 10 matches, suggesting she's found form at the perfect time. Her 66.0% first serve points won actually matches Mboko's efficiency when the serve lands, indicating the Australian can compete in service games. The crowd support and Birrell's current confidence could create an upset opportunity, especially if she can force the inconsistent Mboko into tiebreaks where the Moroccan holds just a 25.0% success rate.
Hobart semifinal promises tactical battle
In Hobart, Ruzic enters as the higher-ranked player but faces a dangerous opponent in Cocciaretto, who arrives with a five-match winning streak. Their head-to-head record favors Ruzic 2-1, including a victory at Wuhan in October 2025, but all their hard court meetings have gone to the Italian. This contradiction in surface-specific results adds intrigue to their semifinal clash.
The statistics reveal remarkably similar players, with both winning approximately 63% of first serve points and showing comparable return games. The crucial difference lies in pressure situations and tiebreak execution. Ruzic saves 58.5% of break points compared to Cocciaretto's 53.1%, while their tiebreak records tell an even starker story - Ruzic's 66.7% success rate versus Cocciaretto's alarming 0-6 record (0.0%).
Cocciaretto's inability to win tiebreaks represents a significant psychological hurdle, especially against an opponent who has proven capable in these situations. However, her current form streak and superior break point conversion rate (45.4% vs 47.8% - actually Ruzic leads here) suggest she can create opportunities. The match may ultimately depend on whether Cocciaretto can avoid the extended sets that have plagued her in crucial moments throughout the past year.
These three semifinals promise to shape the weekend's finals across both tournaments, with Andreeva and Mboko carrying ranking advantages while their opponents bring momentum and fighting spirit. Adelaide and Hobart continue to provide the perfect hard court preparation as the season builds toward its first major peaks.