Aryna Sabalenka has continued her dominant run at the 2026 Australian Open, defeating 18-year-old American Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-0 in Melbourne on Monday to reach the semi-finals.
The world number one, who is chasing her third Australian Open title in four years, will face either third seed Coco Gauff or Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina next.
For UK tennis fans, Sabalenka’s relentless form signals she is the player to beat this fortnight.
The 27-year-old Belarusian, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, has now reached the semi-final stage at 14 of the last 17 majors she has contested, cementing her reputation as one of the most consistent performers in women’s tennis.
Why is Sabalenka considered unstoppable at the Australian Open?
Sabalenka’s results speak for themselves. She has navigated the 2026 tournament without dropping a single set, extending her winning streak to ten matches and 20 consecutive sets.
Her aggressive style and mental focus have been key to her consistency on hard courts, where she has won 19 of her 22 career titles.
Sabalenka d. Iva Jovic 6-3 6-0
Untouchable performance from Aryna
4th straight Australian Open SF
6th straight Grand Slam SF
Truly ridiculous consistency at the biggest events
✅14th Slam SF
✅10-0 in 2026
✅Won 25 of last 26 matches at AOWorld #1 tennis hits different
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 27, 2026
“Focusing on the right things definitely helps a lot with the consistency,” Sabalenka said after her quarter-final win. “Every player, when they get to the tournament, is trophy or nothing.”
She is only the third woman in the past 38 years to reach eight consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals, joining the ranks of Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis.
How did Sabalenka handle the heat and pressure in her quarter-final?
Monday’s match was played in extreme conditions, with temperatures exceeding 40°C. The Australian Open’s heat stress scale hit its cut-off shortly after the match, prompting organisers to close the roof on Rod Laver Arena for the remainder of the day.
Despite facing a teenage opponent, Sabalenka made light work of Jovic, demonstrating both her physical resilience and tactical discipline.
“These teenagers were testing me in the last couple of rounds. Don’t look at the score. It wasn’t easy at all,” she admitted.
Jovic, reflecting on the match, described Sabalenka as “very inspiring”, praising her ability to channel setbacks into motivation on the biggest stage.
What does this mean for Sabalenka’s Grand Slam prospects?
Having lost two Grand Slam finals in 2025, first at the Australian Open, then at the French Open, Sabalenka bounced back to defend her US Open crown last September. Her current form makes her the heavy favourite to reclaim the Australian Open title.
Her mental approach, which she calls “trophy or nothing”, focuses on executing each match, set, and point to the best of her ability rather than dwelling on outcomes.
This mindset, combined with her proven hard-court dominance, makes her a formidable contender.
Quick stats: Aryna Sabalenka at the 2026 Australian Open
| Stat | Figure |
|---|---|
| Matches won | 10 (without dropping a set) |
| Consecutive sets won | 20 |
| Quarter-finals opponents under 20 | 2 (Victoria Mboko, Iva Jovic) |
| Grand Slam semi-finals in the last 17 tournaments | 14 |
Embed suggestion: A YouTube highlight reel from BBC Sport showing Sabalenka’s quarter-final win could enhance engagement here.
