Sabalenka First Into Australian Open Semis

Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka has secured her place in the semifinals of the year’s first Grand Slam, the Australian Open, with a commanding victory over teenage American prodigy Eva Jovic. Under sweltering conditions at Rod Laver Arena, Sabalenka dominated the match 6-3, 6-0, demonstrating her characteristic power and precision. Meanwhile, German powerhouse Alexander Zverev also booked his spot in the last four, relying on his formidable serve to overcome American Lerner Tien.

For Sabalenka, this marks the fourth consecutive year she has progressed to the semifinals in Melbourne. She has yet to drop a set in the tournament and remains undefeated in ten consecutive matches since her Brisbane triumph earlier this season. Facing 18-year-old Jovic in 38-degree heat, Sabalenka reflected on the challenge:

“These young players have been testing me the most in the past few rounds. The scoreline may look easy, but it was far from simple. Eva played exceptionally well, pushing me to raise my level,” she said after the match.

Due to extreme temperatures, tournament officials decided to close the Rod Laver Arena roof immediately following Sabalenka’s match, ensuring the remaining three quarterfinals could be played in a safer, more comfortable environment. Several junior matches scheduled for outside courts were temporarily suspended for the same reason. Sabalenka is now set to face 12th seed Elina Svitolina in the semifinals on Thursday.

For Jovic, the tournament was nonetheless a breakthrough. Ranked among the top 100 youngest female players, the American caught attention with victories over 7th seed Jasmine Paolini in the third round and then the experienced Yulia Putintseva in the fourth round, the latter almost a one-sided triumph.

Zverev’s Power Serve Dominates

Zverev, last year’s runner-up, defeated Tien 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) under the closed roof, where temperatures outside soared to 43°C. He unleashed a series of 24 aces, leaving Tien struggling to respond.

“Without my serve today, I might not have won,” said the 28-year-old. Zverev, who lost to Yannick Sinner in last year’s final, now moves on to face either world number one Carlos Alcaraz or home favourite Alex de Minaur in the semifinals. Alcaraz, despite six Grand Slam titles, has yet to advance beyond the quarterfinals in Melbourne.

Semifinalists Overview – Australian Open 2026

With Sabalenka and Zverev advancing, the semifinals promise thrilling showdowns, blending youth, power, and experience, as the Australian Open edges closer to its climactic finales.