“Australian Open: Aryna Sabalenka Crushes Teenager Jovic to Storm Into Semis”

Sabalenka Dominates Jovic to Cruise Into Australian Open Semis

World number one Aryna Sabalenka handed 18-year-old American Iva Jovic a crushing 6-3, 6-0 defeat in the quarter-finals at a sweltering Melbourne Park on Tuesday, keeping her on course for a third Australian Open title in four years.

The Belarusian, champion in 2023 and 2024 and runner-up last year, will next face either Coco Gauff or Elina Svitolina for a place in Saturday’s final.

“These teenagers have been testing me in the last couple of rounds,” Sabalenka said, referring to her previous victory over 19-year-old Canadian 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. It was a tough battle.”

Sabalenka set the tone early, racing to a 3-0 lead in the opening set. Jovic fought hard to hold serve in the fourth game, but the world number one’s relentless pressure soon regained control, closing out the set in under an hour.

The second set was even more one-sided. Sabalenka broke serve immediately with a stunning cross-court winner, asserting dominance from the first game. She converted two more break points to seal the victory, demonstrating both power and precision in a ruthless display that sent her into the semi-finals with authority.