The Japan Times - 'Trophy or nothing' as Sabalenka sweeps into Melbourne semis

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 defence 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 38C heat, but it was not a worry for the world number one.

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."

- Jovic run over -

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.

Sabalenka held to pile on the pressure before Jovic fended off a break point on her next serve to get on the scoreboard.

Despite some long rallies the top seed's brute force proved too much as she sealed the first set.

Sabalenka then broke immediately to assert control of set two and Jovic was spent, with another break for 3-0 then a double fault to slump 5-0 down.

"It was a tough match. Don't look at the score, it wasn't easy at all," said Sabalenka.

"She played incredible tennis. Pushed me to one step better level. And I'm super happy with the win."

S.Suzuki--JT