Not lengthy after reserving an Australian Open quarterfinal berth, Iva Jović expressed quiet confidence about her possibilities of defeating upcoming opponent, Aryna Sabalenka.
As match-ups go, few are harder than going through world primary Sabalenka on a courtroom the place she has twice lifted the championship trophy.
It could be straightforward to counsel Jović is just having fun with the innocence of youth, given she is eighteen and the youngest participant inside the highest 100 on the WTA rankings.
However the American just isn’t a naïve teenager, blindly caught up within the second at Melbourne Park.
The world quantity 27 has unwavering self-belief in her recreation, and few might argue about her potential after watching her destroy Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-1 within the fourth spherical.
“I do not actually really feel like there’s lots of home cash or underdog mentality that I am feeling,” Jović mentioned.
“As a result of I do not really feel like I’ve been enjoying something outdoors of my consolation zone or outdoors of my regular degree.
“I’ve come from two different tournaments the place I used to be enjoying daily and profitable lots of matches, as nicely.
“So this week and the extent that I am displaying proper now would not actually really feel a lot totally different than that.
“it is simply one other week that I am profitable extra matches, which is sweet to see.”
Iva Jović is the youngest participant within the prime 100 on the WTA rankings. (Getty photos: Clive Brunskill)
Jović’s run to the final eight has been spectacular.
She is but to drop a set and amongst her victories was a 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) defeat of seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, who’s a two-time main finalist and former world quantity 4.
Jović didn’t have to play herself into kind, having made the ultimate and semifinal of two Australian Open lead-up occasions, in Hobart and Auckland, respectively.
Her 2025 season underlined her standing as a star on the rise, highlighted by her win on the Guadalajara WTA 500 occasion as a 17-year-old.
Jović prepared for Sabalenka
Sabalenka, who gained the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024, might be a unique proposition to Jović’s earlier opponents in Melbourne.
She arrived on the event on the again of profitable the Brisbane Worldwide and has barely been challenged on her approach to the quarterfinals.
Jović, although, just isn’t intimidated by the Belarusian.
Aryna Sabalenka has twice gained the Australian Open. (Getty Photos: Fred Lee)
Whereas buzzing to have come this far on the season-opening main, she sees no motive why she can’t compete in opposition to Sabalenka.
“I am simply excited. I am within the quarters, which is wonderful for me,” Jović mentioned.
“So you are going to be enjoying top-of-the-line gamers at this stage of the event. That is what you need.
“I am simply trusting the extent that I’ve been in a position to put out and hopefully that might be sufficient.”
Tuesday’s quarterfinal would be the first time Sabalenka and Jović have performed one another on the WTA Tour.
