Sabalenka overpowers Jovic to reach fourth straight Melbourne semifinal
Aryna Sabalenka defeated Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-0 on Tuesday to secure her place in the Australian Open semifinals.
Aryna Sabalenka, Australian Open 2026 | © Zuma / PsNewz
Aryna Sabalenka defeated Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-0 to confirm that her current level of play remains “untouchable” on the fast courts of Melbourne Park. In a quarterfinal that pitted the tournament’s dominant force against its brightest breakout star, the 27-year-old Belarusian utilized her superior weight of shot to dismantle Jovic in just over an hour.
With this victory, Sabalenka has now won 25 of her last 26 matches at the Australian Open and remains undefeated in 2026 with a perfect 10-0 record.
Sabalenka Showcases No Mercy in Sweltering Heat
The match began under a clear sky with temperatures soaring toward 40 degrees Celsius, forcing both players to contend with the brutal Melbourne heat before the roof on Rod Laver Arena was eventually closed.
Despite the conditions, Sabalenka showed no mercy, racing to an early 3-0 lead by imposing her powerful serve and aggressive baseline returns. While the scoreline in the second set suggests a total collapse, the reality on the court was far more competitive, as the young American forced several games to deuce.
Sabalenka’s consistency at the biggest events has become the hallmark of her reign as world No 1. The victory marks her 14th career Grand Slam semifinal and her fourth in a row at the Australian Open Having already navigated past dangerous young talents like Victoria Mboko two days ago (6-1, 7-6), Sabalenka continues to prove that she can absorb the variety of the tour’s rising stars without losing her clinical edge.
Sabalenka Impressed by the Next Generation
Despite the clinical nature of the win, Sabalenka was quick to heap praise on her opponent during the post-match interview. The top seed acknowledged that the influx of young talent has forced her to elevate her own game to avoid an upset. “These teenagers testing me in the last couple rounds. Incredible player. It was a tough match. Don’t look at the score. It wasn’t easy at all,” Sabalenka admitted, reflecting on a match that required her to save all five break points she faced.
For Iva Jovic, the 18-year-old No 29 seed, the loss ends a dream week that included her first Top 10 win and a guaranteed debut in the world’s Top 20 when the new rankings are released. Jovic leaves Melbourne as the youngest American woman to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals since Venus Williams in 1998.
Sabalenka now moves on to face the winner of the night session clash between No 3 seed Coco Gauff and No 12 seed Elina Svitolina. As the hunt for a third title in four years continues, Sabalenka has signaled that she is ready for whatever the next generation—or the veterans—throw her way.
