Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. one now, showed why it is the player to reckon with at the 2026 Australian Open, dispatching 18-year-old American talent Iva Jovic in a genetic win on Tuesday.
Under the hot sun at the Rod Laver Arena, Aryna Sabalenka had secured her place in the semi-finals with a straight sets victory, 6-3, 6-0.
Chasing her third title in Melbourne in only four years, Aryna Sabalenka wasted no time in expressing her power.
While Iva Jovic was demonstrating flashes of brilliance in the first set, Aryna Sabalenka eventually established control of the game, completely shutting out her opponent in the second set to preserve her Grand Slam dreams.
She now awaits to see who she would have against her in the next round with 3rd seed Coco Gauff due to play 12th seed Elina Svitolina later today.
A Masterclass in Momentum
The match started with Aryna Sabalenka running away with a quick 3-0 lead. Iva Jovic, being in her first big quarterfinal was not going down without a fight; she was able to earn three break-point opportunities towards the end of the first set.
However, it was the world No. 1 who held her nerve to close out the opener.
The second set was a completely different story. Aryna Sabalenka picked up a higher gear, breaking Iva Jovic’s serve several times to put the score away 5-0.
Relying on her signature power game saved all five break points faced during the match and blasted off seven aces to seal the victory.
Battling the Elements
The victory was more impressive in view of the punishing conditions. Melbourne Park was baking hot with temperatures soaring beyond 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit).
Despite the heat, Aryna Sabalenka’s physical conditioning held up to extend her incredible record as a player who has reached the semi finals in 12 of her last 13 Grand Slam appearances.
A Bright Future for Jović
While the result was not lopsided by any means, the tournament has been a giant step forward for Iva Jovic. The teen made a turn of heads in order to knock out the higher-ranked players to reach this stage.
In her post-match interview, Aryna Sabalenka was gracious in victory and said that the match felt a lot more difficult than the scoreboard showed and credited Iva Jovic with forcing her to elevate her level of play.
For now Aryna Sabalenka seems unstoppable. With her big baseline game firing on all cylinders, she is still the favourite to lift the trophy once more in Melbourne.
Saurabh is a passionate tennis content writer and lifelong fan of the game. Whether it’s Grand Slam showdowns or under-the-radar rising stars, Saurabh brings the court to life with sharp analysis, breaking news, and deep-dive features. When they aren’t covering matches, you can find them practicing their topspin forehand or debating who is the GOAT over coffee. Do you enjoy tennis? Then you are in the right place.
