In a display of sheer power and resilience, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka stormed into the semi-finals of the 2026 Australian Open on Tuesday. Despite punishing conditions where temperatures at Melbourne Park soared to a staggering 45°C, Sabalenka needed just over an hour to dismantle 18-year-old American prodigy Iva Jovic with a clinical 6-3, 6-0 victory.
Surviving the “Heat Stress” Crisis
The match was a battle against both the opponent and the elements.
- Extreme Conditions: Play began with the Rod Laver Arena roof open, but as the tournament’s “heat stress” scale hit its maximum rating of 5.0, organizers were forced to suspend matches on all outdoor courts.
- Roof Closure: Following Sabalenka’s victory, the roof was closed for the remainder of the day’s play to protect athletes and fans from the life-threatening heat.
- Sabalenka’s Form: The Belarusian is currently on a 10-match winning streak in 2026 and has remarkably reached the semi-finals without dropping a single set.
Quarter-Final Round-Up: Tuesday, Jan 27
The “Elite Eight” face-offs continued throughout the day with high-stakes battles across both draws.
| Matchup | Result / Schedule | Status |
| Aryna Sabalenka vs. Iva Jovic | Sabalenka wins 6-3, 6-0 | Completed |
| Alexander Zverev vs. Learner Tien | Zverev wins 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-6(3) | Completed |
| Coco Gauff vs. Elina Svitolina | Scheduled for Night Session (7:00 PM) | Upcoming |
| Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alex de Minaur | Scheduled for Night Session (Following Gauff) | Upcoming |
The Road Ahead
- Women’s Semi-Final: Sabalenka will face the winner of the blockbuster night-session clash between 3rd seed Coco Gauff and 12th seed Elina Svitolina.
- Men’s Semi-Final: 3rd seed Alexander Zverev has booked his spot in the final four after ending the fairytale run of American teenager Learner Tien. He awaits the winner of the highly anticipated match between World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and home favorite Alex de Minaur.