Sabalenka sets tie-break record to reach last eight.
Aryna Sabalenka broke Novak Djokovic’s Open era record of consecutive tie-breaks won at Grand Slams to defeat teenage Canadian Victoria Mboko and set up a mouth-watering Australian Open quarter-final against another of tennis’ rising stars – 18-year-old Iva Jovic.
The two-time champion won 6-1 7-6 (7-1) on Rod Laver Arena – sealing it with her 20th tie-break triumph in a row – and is yet to drop a set at this year’s Australian Open.
“It’s putting pressure on my opponents so that is what I like playing tie-breaks nowadays,” Sabalenka said after her latest victory.
“I just go into the tie-breaks and try to not think about this is a tie-break and I try and play point by point and I guess that’s the key to this consistency.”
In response to his record being topped, 24-time major winner Djokovic jokingly posted on X: “I’m upset right now”.
Belarusian Sabalenka has now reached at least the quarter-finals in 13 consecutive Grand Slam appearances and is two wins away from a fourth successive final in Melbourne.
The champion in 2023 and 2024, Sabalenka lost last year’s final to American Madison Keys.
“Her tie-break record is absolutely incredible, and she has always backed herself when the pressure is on,” said former British number one Annabel Croft on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.
The 27-year-old appeared to be cruising towards a comfortable victory against 17th seed Mboko, leading by a set and a double break.
However, she almost let a 4-1 lead slip in the second set and eventually clinched victory in a tie-break.
Former world number five Daniela Hantuchova added: “When you’re going into a tie-break she only has one plan and she trusts it.
“She is never ever going to question herself, and that is not an easy thing to do when you are a set and 4-1 up – and suddenly you find yourself in a very, very difficult and stressful position.”
Teenager Jovic says she is “really excited” to test herself against “the best” after booking a maiden Grand Slam quarter-final against Sabalenka.
The American dropped only one game in a convincing 6-0 6-1 win against Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva.
Asked about meeting Sabalenka in the next round, Jovic said: “I think I’m just going to try to keep taking care of my side of the net.
“Obviously she’s number one for a reason and has had so much success at this tournament, but that’s what I want.
“I said last year that I hoped to be able to play here this year, because you definitely want to play the best and see how it goes. I’m really excited.”
Jovic, who is the 29th seed in Melbourne, had not previously been beyond the second round of a major.
She backed up a straight-set win over seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, her first victory against a player ranked in the world’s top 10, by breezing through her fourth-round tie against Putintseva in just 53 minutes.
‘Confidence the key’ for Gauff
Aryna Sabalenka broke Novak Djokovic’s Open era record of consecutive tie-breaks won at Grand Slams to defeat teenage Canadian Victoria Mboko and set up a mouth-watering Australian Open quarter-final against another of tennis’ rising stars – 18-year-old Iva Jovic.
The two-time champion won 6-1 7-6 (7-1) on Rod Laver Arena – sealing it with her 20th tie-break triumph in a row – and is yet to drop a set at this year’s Australian Open.
“It’s putting pressure on my opponents so that is what I like playing tie-breaks nowadays,” Sabalenka said after her latest victory.
“I just go into the tie-breaks and try to not think about this is a tie-break and I try and play point by point and I guess that’s the key to this consistency.”
In response to his record being topped, 24-time major winner Djokovic jokingly posted on X: “I’m upset right now”.
Belarusian Sabalenka has now reached at least the quarter-finals in 13 consecutive Grand Slam appearances and is two wins away from a fourth successive final in Melbourne.
The champion in 2023 and 2024, Sabalenka lost last year’s final to American Madison Keys.
“Her tie-break record is absolutely incredible, and she has always backed herself when the pressure is on,” said former British number one Annabel Croft on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.
The 27-year-old appeared to be cruising towards a comfortable victory against 17th seed Mboko, leading by a set and a double break.
However, she almost let a 4-1 lead slip in the second set and eventually clinched victory in a tie-break.
Former world number five Daniela Hantuchova added: “When you’re going into a tie-break she only has one plan and she trusts it.
“She is never ever going to question herself, and that is not an easy thing to do when you are a set and 4-1 up – and suddenly you find yourself in a very, very difficult and stressful position.”
Teenager Jovic says she is “really excited” to test herself against “the best” after booking a maiden Grand Slam quarter-final against Sabalenka.
The American dropped only one game in a convincing 6-0 6-1 win against Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva.
Asked about meeting Sabalenka in the next round, Jovic said: “I think I’m just going to try to keep taking care of my side of the net.
“Obviously she’s number one for a reason and has had so much success at this tournament, but that’s what I want.
“I said last year that I hoped to be able to play here this year, because you definitely want to play the best and see how it goes. I’m really excited.”
Jovic, who is the 29th seed in Melbourne, had not previously been beyond the second round of a major.
She backed up a straight-set win over seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, her first victory against a player ranked in the world’s top 10, by breezing through her fourth-round tie against Putintseva in just 53 minutes.
