World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her ruthless Australian Open run, overpowering Canada’s rising star Victoria Mboko 6-1, 7-6 (1) to reach the quarterfinals for the fourth straight year at Melbourne Park. The two-time champion once again showcased her dominance under pressure, extending her remarkable tiebreak winning streak to 22 consecutive victories.
Sabalenka raced through the opening set in just over half an hour, breaking Mboko three times and striking the ball with authority to leave the teenager scrambling. However, the second set told a different story as Mboko, playing with fearless intent, clawed her way back from a 4-1 deficit and pushed the match into a tiebreak.
The Canadian teenager mounted a spirited challenge by attacking Sabalenka’s serve, breaking her twice and even saving three match points at 5-4, igniting the Rod Laver Arena crowd. But once the contest reached the tiebreak, Sabalenka shifted gears, charging to a 6-0 lead and sealing the win in emphatic fashion.
“She’s an incredible player for her age,” Sabalenka said after the match. “These young players are really pushing hard on tour, and she made me work for every point today.”
The victory followed Sabalenka’s previous tiebreak-heavy win over Anastasia Potapova and further underlined her mental strength in clutch moments, having now won 19 tiebreaks in a row last season and three more this year. Despite the loss, Mboko exited the tournament with her reputation enhanced, showing no signs of intimidation in her Grand Slam main-draw debut. The 19-year-old constantly went after Sabalenka’s serve and displayed composure well beyond her years.
Sabalenka will next face American Iva Jovic in the quarterfinals. Jovic booked her spot with a commanding 6-0, 6-1 win over Yulia Putintseva at John Cain Arena, wrapping up the contest in just 53 minutes. The 29th seed dictated play from the outset, forcing errors and never allowing Putintseva to settle into a rhythm.
“I wanted to finish it quickly and not let it turn into a battle,” Jovic said on court. “I’m really happy with how I executed my game.”
With her powerful baseline game and growing confidence, Jovic now sets up a high-stakes quarterfinal clash against the defending champion, while Sabalenka remains firmly on course in her title defence.
