Aryna Sabalenka continued her bid for a third Australian Open title with a commanding 6-3, 6-0 victory over American teenager Iva Jovic in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old world number one, who won in 2023 and 2024 and was runner-up last year, made quick work of the 18-year-old, who was appearing in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. Sabalenka will now face either Coco Gauff or Elina Svitolina for a spot in Saturday’s final.
“These teenagers have been testing me in the last couple of rounds,” Sabalenka said, reflecting on her previous win over 19-year-old Victoria Mboko. “Don’t look at the score, it wasn’t easy at all. She played incredible tennis and pushed me to play at a higher level. It was a tough battle.”
Sabalenka started the match strongly, racing to a 3-0 lead in the first set. Jovic fought to hold her serve in the fourth game, using her speed to challenge the more experienced Belarusian. Despite her efforts, Sabalenka closed the opening set in less than an hour.
The second set saw even greater dominance from Sabalenka. She broke Jovic in the first game with a cross-court winner and converted two more break points to move comfortably into the semifinals.
“I think for every player at a Grand Slam, it’s trophy or nothing,” Sabalenka said. “I am trying to focus on the right things, take it step by step, and give my best in each match, each point, each game, and each set.”
The match was played under the open roof at Rod Laver Arena in sweltering 38C heat, but Sabalenka remained unfazed. Riding a 10-match winning streak since her Brisbane International triumph, she described her second-set performance as “amazing” and said she trusted her game throughout.
For Jovic, the defeat ended a breakthrough tournament. The youngest player in the women’s top 100 and seeded 29th stunned seventh seed Jasmine Paolini and then defeated Yulia Putintseva losing just one game. Despite her loss, Jovic praised Sabalenka’s resilience.
“I think Aryna played very well. I could have done some things differently, but that’s tennis,” Jovic said. “It’s amazing what she has achieved in her career. She has turned challenges on and off the court into motivation. I hope to play against her more in the future. She was very kind at the end of the match.”
Sabalenka’s decisive win confirms her place among the favorites to lift the trophy at Melbourne Park once again, as she chases a third Australian Open crown.
