Aryna Sabalenka’s Australian Open campaign remains on fire as the top seed battled past Victoria Mboko 6-1, 7-6(1) to storm into the quarterfinals for the fourth year running, extending her Grand Slam quarterfinal streak to 13.
The match’s crowning glory came in the tiebreak, where Sabalenka’s 7-1 demolition marked her 20th straight Grand Slam tiebreak victory – a new record, toppling Novak Djokovic’s 19 from two decades ago.
From the first ball, Sabalenka was in control, claiming the opening set 6-1 in a brisk 45 minutes and building a 4-1 edge in the second. Mboko, the 16-year-old prodigy, refused to fade, breaking serve twice and saving three match points at 5-4, turning the set into a nail-biter that went to deuce in the 12th game.
But Sabalenka’s big-game mentality prevailed in the tiebreak, sealing the win in 86 minutes. Her blend of power and poise was unmatched.
Reflecting on the match, Sabalenka lauded Mboko: “What a talent she is at just 16. She challenged me big time today. Thrilled to win in straights.”
In the quarters, Sabalenka meets Eva Jovic of the USA, the 29th seed who crushed Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-1 to make her Grand Slam quarterfinal debut. With 2024 and 2025 titles under her belt, Sabalenka dreams of more Melbourne magic.