Aryna Sabalenka continued her dominant run at the Australian Open on Sunday, advancing to the quarterfinals and breaking a Grand Slam record previously held by Novak Djokovic.
The world No.1 defeated Victoria Mboko 6-1, 7-6(1) to register her 20th consecutive tiebreak win in Grand Slam matches, surpassing Djokovic’s Open Era record of 19. The milestone was acknowledged on social media by the official French Open X account, drawing a playful response from the Serbian star.
“I’m upset right now,” Djokovic commented, adding an angry-face emoji — a remark that quickly gained traction among fans online.
Australian Open 2026: Where Sabalenka and Djokovic stand
Sabalenka’s victory underlined her consistency at Melbourne Park. She has now reached the Australian Open quarterfinals for the fourth straight year, having won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024 before finishing runner-up last season. The Belarusian will next face 18-year-old Iva Jovic, who eased past Yulia Putintseva in the previous round.
Djokovic also secured a place in the quarterfinals, benefiting from a walkover after Jakub Mensik withdrew due to an abdominal injury. The extra rest comes as Djokovic continues his pursuit of another title at his most successful Grand Slam.
Earlier in the tournament, Djokovic marked his 400th career Grand Slam match win with a third-round victory over Botic van de Zandschulp. The 24-time major champion remains the most successful player in Australian Open history, with 10 titles in Melbourne.
Could Sabalenka and Djokovic team up?
Speaking after her win, Sabalenka did not rule out a potential doubles partnership with Djokovic, suggesting the US Open as a possibility — albeit with a joke.
“Maybe we play at the US Open this year,” she said with a laugh. “I’m still waiting for that long message from him, telling me how much he wants to play with me and that I’m his dream partner. I haven’t received it yet — maybe we’ll never play together.”
With the US Open’s revamped doubles format opening the door to star pairings, fans could yet see Sabalenka and Djokovic join forces later this season.
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