Aryna Sabalenka Advances to Australian Open Semifinals with Dominant Win Over Iva Jovic
MELBOURNE, Australia — Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the semifinals at the Australian Open on Tuesday, defeating 18-year-old American Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-0 in a quarterfinal match at Rod Laver Arena. The victory marked Sabalenka’s third consecutive win over a teenager, following her fourth-round triumph over 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko.
The match began with the roof open, despite predictions of scorching temperatures reaching 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 Celsius) in Melbourne. However, the roof was closed for the subsequent men’s quarterfinal between Alexander Zverev and American Learner Tien. When asked about the decision, Sabalenka jokingly said, “I guess, yeah, as a woman, we are stronger than the guys. So they had to close the roof for the guys so they don’t suffer!”
Sabalenka, seeking her third Australian Open title in four years, quickly established her dominance against Jovic, taking a 3-0 lead in the first set. Although Jovic managed to stay in the set and created three break point opportunities in the ninth game, Sabalenka’s experience and skill ultimately prevailed. The Belarusian player saved all five break points she faced throughout the match, showcasing her impressive defensive skills.
In the second set, Sabalenka raced to a 5-0 lead, breaking Jovic’s serve twice and taking any momentum away from the young American. Jovic’s struggles were compounded by a double fault on break point, which gave Sabalenka a commanding 5-0 lead. The top seed sealed the win with an ace on match point, capping off a dominant performance.
Sabalenka’s Path to the Semifinals
Sabalenka’s victory sets up a semifinal showdown against the winner of the quarterfinal match between third-seeded Coco Gauff and Elina Svitolina. The Belarusian player has a strong record at the Australian Open, having won the title in 2023 and 2024 and finishing as runner-up last year to Madison Keys. With her win over Jovic, Sabalenka remains on track to claim her third title in four years.
Jovic, who was born in California to Serbian parents, has been seeking guidance from tennis legend Novak Djokovic. The 18-year-old American revealed that Djokovic has been providing her with tips and advice throughout the tournament, and the two have developed a relationship. Djokovic, who has won 24 Grand Slam singles titles, including 10 at the Australian Open, has been impressed by Jovic’s potential and is happy to help a player with Serbian heritage.
Jovic’s run to the quarterfinals marked her first appearance in a Grand Slam quarterfinal, and although she was defeated by Sabalenka, she demonstrated her potential and poise on the court. The young American plans to build on this experience and aims to have more opportunities in the future, saying, “It’s the quarterfinals, but, you know, ultimately I hope to be in many quarterfinals. So I don’t think this win or loss today is going to make or break my career.”
The Australian Open continues to heat up, with the semifinals scheduled to take place in the coming days. Sabalenka’s dominant win over Jovic has set the stage for an exciting matchup against either Gauff or Svitolina, and tennis fans around the world will be eagerly watching to see who will emerge victorious.
