No underdog mentality against Aryna Sabalenka for on-fire teenager Iva Jovic

MELBOURNE – Confident teenager Iva Jovic said on Jan 25 that she has no “underdog mentality” after barrelling into her first Grand Slam quarter-final and a meeting with two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka.

The 18-year-old American was undaunted on John Cain Arena against the vastly more experienced Yulia Putintseva, ripping her apart 6-0, 6-1 in just 53 dominant minutes.

It marked another giant step in the emergence of Jovic, who stunned two-time Grand Slam singles finalist and seventh seed Jasmine Paolini in round three for the biggest scalp of her career.

She now faces the daunting challenge of Sabalenka, who swatted aside another teenager, Jovic’s good friend and doubles partner Victoria Mboko 6-1, 7-6 (7-1).

“I don’t really feel like there is a lot of house money or underdog mentality that I’m feeling,” said the 29th seed, on her second visit to Melbourne after making round two in 2025.

“Because I don’t feel like I have been playing anything outside of my comfort zone or outside of my normal level.

“I have come from two other tournaments where I was playing every day and winning a lot of matches as well.

“So this week and the level that I’m showing right now doesn’t really feel much different than that.

“So it’s just another week that I’m winning more matches, which is nice to see.”

Jovic, who this time last year was ranked 191st, claimed her maiden title last September in Guadalajara aged just 17.

She started 2026 in sizzling form, making the semi-finals in Auckland and the final in Hobart.

Beating 31-year-old Putintseva gives her an 11-2 record so far this season, the most wins of any player.

Asked about facing Sabalenka next, she said: “She’s No. 1 for a reason and had so much success at this tournament, but that’s what I want.

“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.”

Kazakhstan’s Putintseva was at her 44th consecutive Grand Slam, tied with Katerina Siniakova as most among active players, but it meant nothing against a fearless Jovic.

The American saw off two break points in her opening service game but quickly got in the groove, pounding relentless baseline groundstrokes to rapidly open up a 4-0 lead.

The Kazakh was stunned by the sheer power and accuracy of her opponent, who showed no mercy in racing through the set in 25 minutes, with Putintseva winning just nine points.

The second set started as the first ended with Jovic in total command.

She surged to 4-0, with Putintseva winning a consolation game before being sent packing.

Earlier, Belarusian top seed Sabalenka opened the day on Rod Laver Arena and saw off the brave challenge of 19-year-old Canadian Mboko.

“What an incredible player for such a young age,” said Sabalenka of Mboko, who has emerged as a serious threat in the past year.

“She pushed me really hard today and played incredible tennis.”

Sabalenka raced through the second-set tiebreak – the 20th Grand Slam tiebreak in a row she has won – to seal victory.

She has yet to drop a set as her title charge gathers pace.

Also into the last eight is Coco Gauff.

She is hoping history repeats itself after edging out Karolina Muchova to make the quarter-finals, with the American going on to win titles on three other occasions she has beaten the Czech player.

Gauff dropped a set for the second match in a row before clawing her way back 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 and will now play Ukraine’s 12th seed Elina Svitolina, who defeated Russian eighth seed Mirra Andreeva 6-2, 6-4.

Gauff had a psychological advantage before a ball was hit, winning all of her previous encounters with the seasoned Muchova, including at Cincinnati and the US Open in 2023 and Beijing a year later.

Gauff went on to be crowned champion at each event.

“I saw someone post that. I didn’t know that,” she said.

“I think I just usually play her later in the tournaments, so it just happens to be like that.

“US Open I played her in the quarters, Beijing was in the final, Cincy was in the final. So I think it just happens to be like that because I have played her in the later rounds.

“I don’t think I’m going to think about that, but if I do win, then I guess I have her to thank.”

The 21-year-old Gauff, the 2025 French Open and 2023 US Open champion, has never gone beyond the last four at Melbourne Park. AFP, REUTERS