Sabalenka Advances to Australian Open Quarterfinals; Gauff Secures Victory
Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka continues her journey toward a third Australian Open title, overcoming 19-year-old Vicky Mboko at Rod Laver Arena. Sabalenka secured her spot in the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 7-6 (1) victory on January 24, 2026, showcasing her experience against one of the tour’s promising up-and-coming stars.
Emerging Talent Iva Jovic Advances
Sabalenka’s next challenge will be 18-year-old Iva Jovic, seeded 29th. Jovic stunned Yulia Putintseva with a quick 6-0, 6-1 victory in just 53 minutes at John Cain Arena, marking her first entry into the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam event.
Coco Gauff Makes Her Mark
Another rising star, Coco Gauff, has reached the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year. In a challenging match, Gauff defeated the 19th seed Karolina Muchova with a scoreline of 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. Gauff previously enjoyed favorable outcomes against Muchova, including their semifinal clash at the 2023 US Open.
Upcoming Matches and Key Matchups
- Aryna Sabalenka vs. Iva Jovic
- Coco Gauff vs. Elina Svitolina
Elina Svitolina, seeded 12th, concluded her match on Day 8 by defeating 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva, the eighth seed, with a score of 6-2, 6-4.
Novak Djokovic’s Guidance
Jovic has received valuable insights from 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic during her run in the tournament. Djokovic expressed his willingness to mentor Jovic, who aims to face the world’s top-ranked player. “It’s important to play the best and see how it goes,” Jovic stated, acknowledging Sabalenka’s success.
Sabalenka’s Performance Analysis
Despite an impressive opening set against Mboko, Sabalenka faced challenges in the second. Leading at 4-1, she missed crucial match points but eventually won the tiebreak to secure her match. This victory marks her 20th consecutive tiebreak success.
Sabalenka discussed the difficulties of playing under bright conditions at Melbourne Park, noting that the sun posed issues during crucial moments of her serve. “Two breaks came when I was facing the sun,” she reflected.
Doubles Action Recap
Later on Sunday, Jovic and Mboko competed in doubles but fell short against the fourth-seeded pair of Elise Mertens and Zhang Shuai in a super tiebreak. The match ended 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (10).
As she prepares for the challenge ahead, Jovic remains confident in her abilities. “I trust my instincts, and I know how hard I’ve worked,” she said, looking forward to her showdown with Sabalenka.
