Iva Jovic Sends Warning to Aryna Sabalenka Before Australian Open Quarterfinal Clash: “I’ll Do Homework and Research”
Iva Jovic has so far played two tour-level finals in her career, winning last year's Guadalajara Open.
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Aryna Sabalenka, Iva Jovic (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, Jose Moron)
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Iva Jovic scripted history when she dismantled Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-1 to grab a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Australian Open. This made the 18-year-old the youngest American woman since Venus Williams (1998) to make the last eight at Melbourne Park.
Prior to eliminating the Kazakh ace, the teenager downed seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, securing her career’s first top-20 win. But now, she is preparing for perhaps the toughest of challenges, in the form of the formidable Aryna Sabalenka. Jovic believes she has the ability to compete with the two-time Australian Open singles champion, who knocked out reigning Canadian Open champion Victoria Mboko.
I haven’t watched too much of that match because I was preparing and warming up at the same time. I’ll have to do some homework and research. It’s not like there are many secrets; she’s the world number one, there are tons of videos and opportunities to see what she usually does. I’m excited. I’m in the quarterfinals, that’s already incredible. I’m going to face one of the best in the world; it’s what you always dream of. I’m going to rely on the level I’ve shown so far… and hopefully it will be enough (smiles).
Iva Jovic said at the press conference
Jovic also played doubles alongside Mboko, but their run ended in the second round with a three-set defeat to the fourth seeds, Elise Mertens and Zhang Shuai. The American ace made her Australian Open main draw debut last year, and prior to the ongoing event, she had never progressed beyond the second round of a Major.
Sabalenka, the winner in Melbourne in 2023 (beat Elena Rybakina) and 2024 (beat Qinwen Zheng), missed the three-peat due to her defeat to Madison Keys in last year’s Australian Open final. The four-time Grand Slam champion has already added one title to her trophy cabinet this year.
She defended her Brisbane International crown by going past Marta Kostyuk. The reigning US Open champion has yet to lose a set this year. Only Anastasia Potapova challenged her by forcing two tie-breakers in the third round.
Last year, the World No.1 made it into three Grand Slam finals, losing the Australian Open to Keys and the French Open to Coco Gauff. At the US Open, she downed home favorite Amanda Anisimova to defend her title.
Iva Jovic on how much she has improved since last year’s Australian Open
Iva Jovic was no match for Elena Rybakina in the second round of last year’s Australian Open, with the latter ending the match with a scoreline of 6-0, 6-3. At the press conference after the fourth-round Australian Open win, Jovic was asked how she has improved since that defeat to the 2022 Wimbledon champion.
I’ve improved so much and evolved so much as a player and as a person since then. That day, I got my b*tt kicked a bit (laughs), it was a real slap in the face. I’ve done a good job of turning all those defeats into positives, of being able to learn from them. Physically, I’m much fitter, much stronger, and my tennis is more versatile now.
Jovic has won 11 matches so far this year, the most on the WTA tour so far. Prior to arriving in Melbourne, Jovic participated in the ASB Classic and the Hobart International, losing in the former to Elina Svitolina in the semifinals, and in the latter to Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the final.
Jovic has one WTA title to her name. Last year, she defeated Emiliana Arango in the Guadalajara Open. She played in the main draw rounds of every Major last year, losing in the second rounds of the Australian Open, French Open, and the US Open, while at Wimbledon, she suffered a first-round exit.
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