Semifinals at the Adelaide International 1 will feature a clash of Iga Swiatek and Ashleigh Barty, the last two players to lift the champion’s trophy in the Southern Australian capital, and an encounter between Elena Rybakina and Misaki Doi.
![Elena Rybakina Adelaide International](https://womenstennisblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Elena_Rybakina_-_2022_Adelaide_International_Day_5-DSC_1443_original.jpg)
Seventh seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan recovered from a set down to beat American Shelby Rogers 3-6 6-3 6-2 and reach the semifinals on her tournament debut. Ranked at a career-high No.14, Rybakina hit 13 aces in the first two rounds and scored nine more in the quarterfinals.
![Shelby Rogers Adelaide International](https://womenstennisblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Shelby_Rogers_-_2022_Adelaide_International_Day_5-DSC_1228_original.jpg)
Last year in Adelaide, Rogers was also stopped in the quarterfinals.
![Misaki Doi Adelaide International](https://womenstennisblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Misaki_Doi_-_2022_Adelaide_International_Day_5-DSC_1507_original.jpg)
Rybakina’s semifinal opponent will be Japan’s world No.105 Misaki Doi, who saved two match points in the third set to outlast Slovenia’s world No.100 Kaja Juvan, 6-3 4-6 7-6(5).
The 30-year-old Doi leads Rybakina 1-0 in their head-to-head record. Moreover, Rybakina lost twice to players outside Top 100 last season, against No.430 Carle (Billie Jean King Cup) and No.118 McNally (Charleston).
![Kaja Juvan Adelaide International](https://womenstennisblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Kaja_Juvan_-_2022_Adelaide_International_Day_5-DSC_1601_original.jpg)
Top-ranked Ashleigh Barty impressed home crowd with an emphatic 6-3 6-4 victory over 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.
![Ashleigh Barty Adelaide International](https://womenstennisblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Ashleigh_Barty_-_2022_Adelaide_International_Day_5-DSC_1792_original.jpg)
Barty faced no break points, lost just one point on her first serve and fired a career-best 17 aces in the encounter that lasted 68 minutes.
![Sofia Kenin Adelaide International](https://womenstennisblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Sofia_Kenin_-_2022_Adelaide_International_Day_5-DSC_1692_original.jpg)
The 25-year-old Barty was also victorious in doubles on Friday. Teamed up with Storm Sanders, she defeated Sania Mirza and Nadiia Kichenok to reach the final.
![](https://womenstennisblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Ashleigh_Barty_Storm_Sanders_-_2022_Adelaide_International_Day_5-DSC_2049_original.jpg)
![](https://womenstennisblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Sania_Mirza_Nadiia_Kichenok_-_2022_Adelaide_International_Day_5-DSC_2034_original.jpg)
Barty, who lifted the title during event’s inaugural edition in 2020, is set to face defending champion Iga Swiatek in singles semifinals. As the Australian pointed out, they practice quite a bit together, and we’ve actually shown you photos from their joint practice session on New Year’s Day.
![Iga Swiatek Adelaide International](https://womenstennisblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Iga_Swiatek_-_2022_Adelaide_International_Day_5-DSC_2440_original.jpg)
The fifth-seeded Swiatek advanced to the semifinals with a 6-3 2-6 6-1 win over Victoria Azarenka, leveling their head-to-head record to 1-1. Azarenka, the first player to take a set from Swiatek during the Pole’s 8-0 stretch in Adelaide, later withdrew from her doubles semifinal due to a right leg injury, so third seeds Darija Jurak Schreiber and Andreja Klepac moved into the final with a walkover.
![Victoria Azarenka Adelaide International](https://womenstennisblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Victoria_Azarenka_-_2022_Adelaide_International_Day_5-DSC_2437_original.jpg)
The first semifinal on Saturday’s schedule starts at 12 a.m, Elena Rybakina vs. Misaki Doi. Ashleigh Barty vs. Iga Swiatek take the court next. (photos: Jimmie48)