Aryna Sabalenka and Iva Jovic advance to the Australian Open quarter-finals, while Carlos Alcaraz continues his quest for a maiden Melbourne title.
ARYNA Sabalenka set up an Australian Open quarter-final against 18-year-old American Iva Jovic after a straight-sets victory on Sunday.
The Belarusian top seed, a two-time champion in Melbourne, defeated 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko 6-1, 7-6 (7/1) on Rod Laver Arena.
Sabalenka raced through a second-set tiebreak to seal victory, marking her 20th consecutive Grand Slam tiebreak win.
“I feel like I am a kid still,” Sabalenka said of her opponent. “She pushed me really hard today and played incredible tennis.”
She next faces the 29th-seeded Jovic, who destroyed Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-1 in just 53 minutes.
Jovic, who stunned seventh seed Jasmine Paolini in the third round, is now ranked 27th having been 191st a year ago.
“I said it last year, I hope to be able to play her this year because you definitely want to play the best and see how it goes,” Jovic said of facing Sabalenka.
In other women’s fourth-round matches, third seed Coco Gauff faces Karolina Muchova while Elina Svitolina takes on Mirra Andreeva.
Six-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz follows on centre court to face Tommy Paul in his bid for a maiden Australian Open title.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, who has never passed the quarter-finals in Melbourne, is aiming to become the youngest man to win a career Grand Slam.
“Will try to do my best to maybe surprise him somewhere,” said Daniil Medvedev of his upcoming match against Learner Tien.
Medvedev survived a five-set third-round match and could face another marathon against the American, who beat him at last year’s Australian Open.
The winner will face either Alexander Zverev or Francisco Cerundolo in the next round.
