Aryna Sabalenka grabbed headlines on Sunday after storming into the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and, in the process, breaking a notable Grand Slam record previously held by Novak Djokovic.
The women’s world No.1 sealed a straight-sets win over Victoria Mboko, 6-1, 7-6(1), to register her 20th consecutive tiebreak victory in Grand Slam matches. That achievement pushed her past Djokovic’s Open Era record of 19 straight tiebreak wins.
The milestone was highlighted on social media by the official French Open X account, prompting a light-hearted response from Djokovic. The Serbian great replied, “I’m upset right now”, accompanied by an angry-face emoji. His playful comment quickly caught the attention of tennis fans and sparked online chatter.
Australian Open 2026: Sabalenka and Djokovic’s run so far
Sabalenka’s latest victory continues her dominant run at Melbourne Park. She will next face 18-year-old Iva Jovic, who eased past Yulia Putintseva in the previous round. The Belarusian has now reached the Australian Open quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive year, having lifted the title in 2023 and 2024 before finishing runner-up last season.
Djokovic also booked his place in the quarterfinals, albeit under different circumstances. He received a walkover after his scheduled opponent, Jakub Mensik, withdrew due to an abdominal injury, giving the Serbian extra recovery time as he eyes another deep run at his most successful Grand Slam.
Earlier in the tournament, Djokovic reached another landmark by claiming his 400th career Grand Slam match win with a third-round victory over Botic van de Zandschulp. He remains the most successful player in Australian Open history, with 10 titles at Melbourne Park.
Sabalenka–Djokovic doubles pairing on the cards?
Asked about the possibility of teaming up with Djokovic in doubles, Sabalenka said it could happen at the US Open, though she joked that the former world No.1 still needs to convince her.
“Maybe we play at the US Open this year (laughs). I’m still waiting — they barely asked me last year, so I’m waiting for that long message from him, telling me how he would like to play with me, saying I’m his dream partner,” Sabalenka said. “I’m still waiting for that message. For now, I didn’t get it. Maybe we’ll never play together (laughs).”
With the US Open’s revamped doubles format encouraging high-profile pairings, fans may yet get the chance to see Sabalenka and Djokovic share the court.
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