NewKerala.com

Sabalenka Storms Into Quarters, Breaks Djokovic's Tiebreak Record

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka powered into the Australian Open quarterfinals with a straight-sets victory over Victoria Mboko. In the process, she broke Novak Djokovic's nearly two-decade-old record by winning her 20th consecutive tiebreak at Grand Slam level. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Iva Jovic raced into her first major quarterfinal with a dominant 53-minute win. Both players expressed satisfaction with their performances and focus on the challenges ahead.

Key Points: Sabalenka Reaches Australian Open QF, Breaks Tiebreak Record

  • Sabalenka wins 20th straight Slam tiebreak
  • Defeats Mboko in straight sets
  • Teen Iva Jovic reaches maiden quarterfinal
  • Jovic wins fastest match of tournament
2 min read

Australian Open: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka storms into the quarterfinals after defeating Victoria Mboko

Aryna Sabalenka advances to the Australian Open quarterfinals, breaking Novak Djokovic's long-standing tiebreak record. Teenager Iva Jovic also storms through.

"What an incredible player for such a young age, it's incredible to see these kids coming up on tour. - Aryna Sabalenka"

Melbourne, January 25

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka stormed into the women's singles quarterfinals of the ongoing Australian Open 2026 tournament on Sunday.

The top-seeded player thrashed World No.17 Victoria Mboko in straight sets 6-1, 7-6(1) in a one-sided match on Rod Laver Arena.

The two-time Australian Open champion won her 20th consecutive tiebreak at Grand Slam level, eclipsing an almost two-decade old record owned by Novak Djokovic, who won 19 straight tiebreaks at majors between Wimbledon 2005 and 2007, according to the Australian Open's official site.

"What an incredible player for such a young age, it's incredible to see these kids coming up on tour," said Sabalenka, who is yet to drop a set.

"(She) pushed me really hard today, super happy with the win. It was quite a fight," Sabalenka said, acknowledging that her foe made the second set tricky by playing with the freedom of someone with nothing to lose. "I'm super happy that I was able to close this match in straight sets," she added.

Meanwhile, the 18-year-old Iva Jovic dominated the court at John Cain Arena and advanced to her maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal after thrashing Kazakh Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-1 in just 53 minutes - the quickest match of the Australian Open 2026 so far.

"I'm really glad to get through," Jovic said. "Obviously, the scoreline is favourable, but it doesn't matter how you get it done. I just wanted to get it done, and I felt like if I let her come back a little bit, it would become a dog fight. So, I just tried to keep it as far away as possible and [I'm] just so happy to be in the finals."

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Great performance, but I feel the article focuses too much on the top seed. What about Iva Jovic? An 18-year-old winning 6-0, 6-1 in a Grand Slam quarterfinal is huge news! The future of women's tennis looks bright.
R
Rohit P
Watching from Mumbai. Sabalenka's power game is something else. Hope Sania Mirza's academy can produce a player with that kind of raw aggression for India someday. We need a singles champion!
S
Sarah B
It's impressive how gracious Sabalenka was in victory, praising the young opponent. That's true champion spirit. The next match will be a real test. Go Aryna!
K
Karthik V
The depth in women's tennis is amazing. From a seasoned champion like Sabalenka to a teenager like Jovic making waves. Makes for exciting viewing. Perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon in Delhi.
M
Michael C
That tiebreak stat is mind-blowing. To be more clutch than Djokovic in those high-pressure moments says everything about her focus. She's the clear favourite now.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50