Aryna Sabalenka says her mentality is “trophy or nothing” as she maintained her pursuit of a 3rd Australian Open title in 4 years with a dominant quarter-last victory over teenager Iva Jovic.
World primary Sabalenka overpowered rising American star Jovic 6-3 6-0 and awaits both third seed Coco Gauff or Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina within the semi-finals.
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The 27-yr-outdated Belarusian, a 4-time main singles champion, has made the semi-last stage at 14 of the final 17 majors she has contested.
Sabalenka is just the third ladies’s participant to succeed in eight consecutive singles semi-finals at Grand Slams previously 38 years, after Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis.
“I think that it’s unbelievable what I was able to achieve,” stated Sabalenka.
“What’s really helping me to be there all the time is the focus that I’m having.
“Focusing on the fitting issues positively helps quite a bit with the consistency.”
Sabalenka has reached this year’s semi-finals in Melbourne without dropping a set, taking her winning streak at the start of 2026 to 10 matches and 20 consecutive sets.
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Having lost two Grand Slam finals last year – first in Melbourne and then at the French Open – Sabalenka defended her US Open crown in September and is the heavy favourite to regain her Australian Open title.
Sabalenka, who has won 19 of her 22 career titles on hard courts, said: “I believe each participant, after they get to the match, is trophy or nothing.
“The mentality is the same, and it’s always in the back of your mind that obviously you want to win it.
“But I’m making an attempt to shift my deal with the fitting issues and simply making an attempt my finest in every match, every level, every sport, every set. That’s my mentality.”
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It was the second consecutive round in which Sabalenka faced a teenage opponent, having previously beaten 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko.
“These youngsters have been testing me within the final couple rounds. Don’t have a look at the rating. It wasn’t straightforward in any respect,” she said.
Sabalenka’s quarter-final against the 18-year-old Jovic was played in intense heat exceeding 40C, with the Australian Open’s heat stress scale hitting the cut-off mark shortly after the conclusion of their match.
The roof was closed on Rod Laver Arena as Sabalenka conducted her post-match interview and will stay shut for the day’s remaining matches
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Jovic described Sabalenka, who has worked on controlling her emotions on-court to achieve consistency at the sport’s biggest tournaments, as “very inspiring”.
“I believe the best way she’s been in a position to make use of all of the destructive issues which have occurred to her and turned them into motivation and gasoline to be higher is superb,” Jovic said.