Defending champion out of Australian Open

They'll always have next week's episode..

Podcast co-hosts Jessica Pegula & Madison Keys embrace at the net after their Australian Open R4 match. pic.twitter.com/XO67eEgVPE

— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) January 26, 2026

Australian Open defending champion Madison Keys saw her title defense come to an end yesterday when her friend, countrywoman and podcast partner, Jessica Pegula, defeated her in straight sets in the round of 16. Pegula, one of five USA players who advanced to the round of 16, has yet to drop a set. 

Making a name for herself in Melbourne is young USA player Iva Jovic, who upset 7th seed Jasmine Paolini in the third round, and defeated Yulia Putintseva in the round of 16. Also winning their round of 16 matches were Coco Gauf (def. Karolina Muchova) and Amanda Anisimova (def. Wang Xinyu).

World number 1 and two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka defeated her round of 16 opponent, Victoria Mboko, and world number 2 Iga Swiatek--who is seeking a Career Slam--defeated qualifier Maddison Inglis. 

Maddison Inglis earned 25 per cent of her career winnings in 10 days of tennis — and she knows what’s she’s spending it on after her dream Australian Open run came to an end.

FULL STORY 👉 https://t.co/QJY8EucMX7 pic.twitter.com/iNeXihfYVf

— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) January 26, 2026

Here is the quarterfinal draw:

Aryna Sabalenka (1) v. Iva Jovic (29)
Coco Gauff (3) v. Elina Svitolina (12)
Jessica Pegula (6) v. Amanda Anisimova (4)
Elena Rybakina (5) v. Iga Swiatek (2) 

Sabalenka and Jovic will be meeting for the first time. Gauff is 2-1 against Svitolina; the Ukrainian star defeated the world number 1 in the second round of the 2021 Australian Open. Pegula is 3-0 against Anisimova, and Swiatek is 6-5 against Rybakina. On hard courts, Swiatek leads 5-3. The Swiatek-Rybakina match is probably the one that most of us are looking forward to watching (which means that it will most likely be on in the middle of the night, my time--that's generally how it goes). 

There has been a lot of concern about the intense heat during this tournament, and organizers have had to make adjustments in the name of safety. It wasn't that long ago that Melbourne had Rebound Ace courts, and the results were quite dangerous. It wasn't unusual for players to be given IV liquids as they were carried off the court on stretchers, and ankle injuries were common because the surface became so soft. I also recall a wheelchair match being called off because the wheelchair tires melted. This situation went on at the Australian Open for far too long.