Aryna Sabalenka
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has made her intentions clear at the Australian Open, declaring a “trophy or nothing” mindset after powering into the semi-finals with a commanding win over teenage sensation Iva Jovic.
The 27-year-old Belarusian produced a dominant display in the quarter-finals, overwhelming the rising American star 6-3, 6-0 to keep alive her quest for a third Australian Open title in four years. Sabalenka will now face either third seed Coco Gauff or Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina for a place in the final.
Already a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, Sabalenka has been a model of consistency at the sport’s biggest stage, reaching the semi-final round in 14 of the last 17 majors she has played.
She is also only the third woman in the past 38 years to reach eight consecutive Grand Slam singles semi-finals, joining legends Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis.
Reflecting on her achievements, Sabalenka described her journey as “unbelievable,” crediting her sharp focus for her sustained success. “What’s really helping me to be there all the time is the focus that I’m having. Focusing on the right things definitely helps a lot with the consistency,” she said.
Sabalenka has cruised through this year’s Melbourne tournament without dropping a set, extending her unbeaten start to the 2026 season to 10 matches and 20 straight sets. After losing two Grand Slam finals last year — in Melbourne and at the French Open — she bounced back by defending her US Open crown in September and is now the clear favourite to reclaim the Australian Open title.
With 19 of her 22 career titles coming on hard courts, Sabalenka insists her approach is simple but relentless. “I think every player, when they get to the tournament, is trophy or nothing. The mentality is the same, and it’s always in the back of your mind that obviously you want to win it. But I’m trying to shift my focus on the right things and just trying my best in each match, each point, each game, each set,” she explained.
As the tournament heads into its final stages, Sabalenka’s form and mindset suggest she is firmly on course to add yet another major trophy to her growing collection.