Svitolina swept aside world No.3 Gauff 6-1 6-2 in less than an hour under a closed roof on Tuesday night at Rod Laver Arena, where temperatures were significantly cooler than the 40-plus degrees outside on a sweltering day at Melbourne Park.
It was the 31-year-old's second win over a top-10 opponent in the last two days, following a straight sets victory over teen star Mirra Andreeva in the previous round.
And it lifted the former world No.3 - who gave birth to daughter Skai in October 2022 - back into the top 10 herself.
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"Not bad, I would say," 12th seed Svitolina said.
"I'm very, very pleased with the tournament so far and it's always been my dream to come back after maternity leave to come back into top 10.
"It's always been my goal. Unfortunately it didn't happen last year, you know, I stopped after September.
"And then when we were training in the off-season I told my coach I want to come back in top 10 still, so this was my goal for this year."
Svitolina will next meet world No.1 and dual Open champion Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday for a spot in what would be her first grand slam final.
For so long maligned as the best women's player without a major title, Svitolina still dreams of a breakthrough and hopes it comes this week in Melbourne.
"It means the world to me and of course I tried to push myself," Svitolina said.
"I tried to give myself this motivation to continue and I'm very pleased with the performance at this tournament and in Australia.
"Overall it's been a good trip for me and I'm really happy to go through for my semi-final."
Svitolina, who has seven career wins against No.1 ranked opponents, has beaten Sabalenka just once in six previous attempts.
But she will take confidence from a scintillating performance against Gauff.
She broke the American's serve at all four attempts in the first set as Gauff struggled with the tension in her racquet, calling for a change when down 4-1.
Another Svitolina break early in the second set gave her a 3-0 lead and a stranglehold on the match.
Gauff restrained from smashing her racquet on court but later let out her frustration in that manner in the corridor on her way out of the venue.
"I tried to go somewhere where they wouldn't broadcast it, but obviously they did," the 21-year-old said.
"So, yeah, maybe some conversations can be had, because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room."
Gauff is already a two-time major winner but has only once reached the semi-finals in Melbourne, losing to eventual champion Sabalenka in 2024.
She was well below her best against Svitolina.
"I just felt like all the things I do well, I just wasn't doing well today," Gauff said.
"The backhand wasn't firing. Forehand wasn't really firing. Returns. There was just a lot that didn't go well today.
"I credit it to her because she forced me to play like that."
