MELBOURNE, Australia — Top-ranked player Aryna Sabalenka secured a spot in the semifinals of the scorching Australian Open on Tuesday, defeating 18-year-old American Iva Jovic with a score of 6-3, 6-0.
The encounter at Rod Laver Arena, which marked the first of four quarterfinal matches scheduled for the tenth day, commenced with the arena’s roof retracted, despite forecasts indicating Melbourne temperatures would reach a scorching 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 Celsius). The roof remained open for this contest but was subsequently closed for the ensuing men’s quarterfinal featuring Alexander Zverev and American Learner Tien.
“I suppose, indeed, as women, we possess greater resilience than the men,” Sabalenka lightheartedly remarked during her subsequent press conference. “Therefore, they had to enclose the stadium for the male players so they wouldn’t struggle!”
All matches on the outer courts were called off for the entirety of the afternoon.
Sabalenka, aiming for her third Australian Open championship within a four-year span, quickly established a 3-0 advantage in the opening set, asserting her dominance early against the 29th-seeded Jovic. However, Jovic managed to stay competitive in the set, creating three opportunities to break serve during the lengthy nine-game, which spanned 10 minutes.
Sabalenka rapidly built a 5-0 lead in the second set by securing two breaks, effectively neutralizing any momentum the young American had gained. Jovic further hampered her own efforts towards the match’s conclusion, committing a double-fault on a break point, which handed Sabalenka her 5-0 lead.
In the concluding game, Sabalenka delivered an ace on a break point and then sealed her victory with another ace on match point. She successfully defended against all five break points she faced throughout the contest.
This triumph marked her second consecutive victory over emerging teenage talents, following her fourth-round win against 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko.
“These young players have presented a challenge to me in the past few rounds — she’s an exceptional athlete,” Sabalenka commented about Jovic during an on-court interview.
“It was a challenging encounter,” Sabalenka further noted. “Do not be misled by the scoreline. She demonstrated remarkable tennis and compelled me to elevate my performance by another degree. It truly was a struggle.”
Sabalenka claimed titles in 2023 and 2024 and finished as the runner-up a year prior to Madison Keys. Keys was eliminated from the competition on Monday by fellow American Jessica Pegula.
Sabalenka now awaits the victor of Tuesday evening’s quarterfinal match between third-seeded Coco Gauff and Elina Svitolina.
Jovic, a California native, is the offspring of immigrant parents to the United States. Her father is of Serbian descent, and Jovic, unsurprisingly, has sought advice from none other than Novak Djokovic.
“Hopefully throughout this year, I can continue to share more moments with him because it has been incredible,” Jovic expressed regarding the Serbian athlete who boasts 24 Grand Slam singles titles, with 10 of those secured at the Australian Open.
Jovic previously disclosed her discussions with Djokovic earlier in the tournament. Djokovic verified that he offered some guidance to the young American, stating his willingness to assist a player with Serbian roots.
The 38-year-old Djokovic has maintained contact.
“Yes, he did send me messages with additional advice across the different rounds. I’ve honestly lost track of the days!” Jovic recounted. “So, we’ve been communicating, and I feel we’ve developed a bit of a connection now, which is wonderful, and I extend my best wishes to him for the remainder of the competition.”
This marked Jovic’s inaugural appearance in a Grand Slam quarterfinal, yet she displayed remarkable composure from the outset.
“I believe I approached the match without significant prior knowledge of how it would unfold in person, having never really practiced with her before,” Jovic stated. “It was also our first direct meeting.”
“I attempted to find a balance, and I recognize that I must be able to adjust to the game and what is required for diverse playing styles. I was unable to accomplish that” against Sabalenka.
However, she anticipates having more opportunities in the future.
“It’s the quarterfinals, but, you know, ultimately I aspire to participate in many quarterfinals,” she remarked. “So I don’t believe this victory or defeat today will define my career.”
Content for this article was contributed by The Associated Press.
