“Australian Open: Aryna Sabalenka Overpowers Teen Sensation Jovic to Reach Semis”

Australian Open: Sabalenka Crushes Teen Jovic to Reach Semis

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka dismantled 18-year-old American Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-0 in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park on Tuesday, keeping her sights firmly set on a third Australian Open title in four years. The Belarusian, champion in 2023 and 2024 and last year’s runner-up, will face either Coco Gauff or Elina Svitolina in Saturday’s semi-final.

“These teenagers have been testing me in the last couple of rounds,” Sabalenka said, recalling her earlier 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 raise my level.”

Sabalenka surged to a 3-0 lead in the first set, applying relentless pressure as Jovic fought to hold serve. Despite flashes of brilliant court coverage from the American, Sabalenka’s power and consistency carried her through, closing the set in under an hour.

The second set was even more one-sided. Sabalenka immediately broke serve with a blistering cross-court winner and maintained control throughout, converting two more break points to seal a commanding victory and storm into the semi-finals.