MELBOURNE, Australia – World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka powered into the Australian Open quarterfinals for the fourth straight year, dismantling 16-year-old Victoria Mboko 6-1, 7-6(1) in a match that showcased her dominance and resilience.
Sabalenka’s victory marked her 13th consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance, a testament to her unparalleled consistency at the majors. In a historic feat, she notched her 20th straight Grand Slam tiebreak win, surpassing Novak Djokovic’s near-two-decade-old record of 19 from 2005-2007.
The first set was a one-sided affair, with Sabalenka racing to a 6-1 win in just 45 minutes, breaking Mboko at will. She carried that momentum into the second set, surging to a 4-1 lead. But the young Canadian fought back fiercely, breaking Sabalenka’s serve twice and even saving three match points at 5-4.
The second set turned into a thriller, with Mboko dragging the 12th game to deuce and pushing the match to the brink of a third set. Yet, in the decisive tiebreak, Sabalenka’s experience shone through. She overwhelmed Mboko 7-1, wrapping up the 1-hour-26-minute battle.
Post-match, Sabalenka praised her opponent: “She’s an incredible player at such a young age. She really pushed me today. I’m just happy to get it done in straight sets.”
Next up for Sabalenka is a quarterfinal clash with America’s 29th seed Eva Jovic, who stunned Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-1 to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. With back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2024 and 2025, Sabalenka eyes another Melbourne triumph.