Trophy or nothing: Sabalenka crushes Jovic, sweeps into semis

MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — Aryna Sabalenka said her mentality in Melbourne was “trophy or nothing” after muscling past American teenager Iva Jovic into the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday to put a third title within sight.

The relentless top seed powered home 6-3, 6-0 in blazing heat to set up a clash with either third seed Coco Gauff or 12th seed Elina Svitolina.

It booked her a 14th Grand Slam semi-final and fourth in a row at the season-opening major.

Sabalenka has won twice in Melbourne, in 2023 and 2024, and seemed destined for another crown last year but was upset in the final by Madison Keys.

That defeat left her shattered and the 27-year-old Belarusian is desperate to go all the way this time.

“I think every player when they get to the tournament is trophy or nothing,” she said.

“The mentality is the same, and it’s always in the back of your mind that obviously you want to win it.”

“But I’m trying to shift my focus on the right things and taking it step by step and just trying my best in each match, each point, each game, each set.”

Keys’ title defense is over, beaten in the fourth round by fellow American Jessica Pegula.

Sabalenka’s match was played under an open roof on Rod Laver Arena in 38-degree Celsius heat, but it was not a worry for the world No. 1.

On a 10-match win streak after victory at the lead-up Brisbane International, she called her second-set performance “amazing.”

“I knew that I have to step in and show the level and the class,” she said.

“I think it really helped me kind of just go for my shots and help me to trust my game.”

Defeat brought an end to a breakthrough tournament for 18-year-old Jovic, the youngest player in the women’s top 100 and seeded 29.

She stunned seventh seed and two-time Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini and blitzed past experienced Yulia Putintseva for the loss of just one game to announce herself to the world.

But Sabalenka was a bridge too far.

Sabalenka safely held serve to lay down a marker, blasting an ace to set up game point and an unreturnable serve to win it.

Jovic made some early errors and sent the ball long on break point to surrender her serve and fall 2-0 behind.