Sabalenka cruises past Jovic and into AusOpen semis, high temps force play changes

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM AUSTRALIAN OPEN QUARTER-FINAL MATCH BETWEEN ARYNA SABALENKA AND IVA JOVIC. ON COURT SOUNDBITE FROM SABALENKA AFTER WIN. FANS WALKING OUTDOORS AT MELBOURNE PARK, COOL WATER MISTERS (RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SHOTLIST) SHOWS: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 27, 2026)(TENNIS AUSTRALIA – See restrictions) 1. AERIAL OF MELBOURNE PARK AT START OF DAY 10 OF AUSTRALIAN OPEN  ARYNA SABALENKA (BELARUS) V IVA JOVIC (USA) 2. WIDE PAN OF INTERIOR OF ROD LAVER ARENA WITH OPEN ROOF AS PLAYERS WARM UP 1ST SET 3. SABALENKA WITH FOREHAND WINNER 4. ON BREAK POINT FOR SABALENKA, JOVIC WITH FOREHAND WINNER, JOVIC WOULD GO ON TO HOLD SERVE 5. NICE RETURNS BY BOTH PLAYERS, JOVIC WINS POINT WITH VOLLEY 6. SABALENKA WITH BACKHAND WINNER TO WIN SET 6-3 2ND SET 7. SABALENKA WITH BACKHAND WINNER TO BREAK SERVE AND TAKE 1-0 LEAD 8. SABALENKA WITH ACE ON MATCH POINT TO WIN 6-3 6-0 9. SABALENKA WAVING TO CROWD 10. (SOUNDBITE)(English) ARYNA SABALENKA AT POST MATCH ON COURT INTERVIEW, SAYING: "Yeah those teenagers testing me in the last couple of rounds but incredible player, it was a tough match, don't look at the score, it wasn't easy at all. She played incredible tennis, she pushed to like one step better level (JOVIC WALKING IN TUNNEL AFTER LOSS) and I'm super happy with the win, it was a tough battle." 11. SABALENKA SIGNING CAMERA GLASS AND BLOWING KISS 12. VARIOUS OF FANS WALKING INTO MELBOURNE PARK  13. FAN STANDING NEXT TO GIANT TENNIS RACQUET AND AO26 SIGN 14. COOL WATER MISTERS 15. FAN GETTING SUNTAN LOTION FROM WORKER 16. WOMAN AND CHILDREN WAVING TO CAMERA STORY: Aryna Sabalenka handed 18-year-old American Iva Jovic a comprehensive 6-3 6-0 defeat at a sweltering Melbourne Park on Tuesday (January 27) to remain on course for a third Australian Open title in four years. The world number one, champion in 2023 and 2024 and runner-up last year, will meet either Coco Gauff or Elina Svitolina for a place in Saturday's title match. Sabalenka raced into a 3-0 lead in the opener and Jovic was made to work by the Belarusian to hold her serve in the fourth game to gain a foothold in the set. The teenager, appearing in her first Grand Slam quarter-final, used her speed around the court to frustrate her more experienced opponent, although Sabalenka eventually closed out the first set in just under an hour. Sabalenka was more dominant in the second set, the 27-year-old firing a cross-court winner beyond Jovic to break serve in the opening game before dominating the remainder of the set to confirm her progress. Just after Sabalenka completed her match, outdoor play was suspended as organizers invoked their extreme heat policy at the Grand Slam.  (Production: David Grip)

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