• Aryna Sabalenka beat Victoria Mboko 6-1, 7-6(1) to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals.
  • Sabalenka extended her unbeaten Grand Slam tiebreak streak to 20.
  • Match lasted 1 hour 26 minutes on Rod Laver Arena; sun affected serve in the second set.
  • Sabalenka will face No. 29 seed Iva Jovic next in the last eight.

Sabalenka holds off Mboko in straight sets

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka survived a late fightback from No. 17 seed Victoria Mboko to win 6-1, 7-6(1) on Rod Laver Arena and reach the Australian Open quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive year. The match lasted 1 hour and 26 minutes.

Strong start, tense finish

Sabalenka dominated early, racing to a 6-1 first set and building a 4-1 lead in the second. But Mboko, the 2025 WTA Newcomer of the Year, mounted a determined comeback, breaking Sabalenka twice in set two and forcing a tiebreak after saving match points at 5-4.

In the tiebreak Sabalenka produced four early winners in the first six points to close out the match 7-6(1), improving an impressive streak: she is now 20-0 in Grand Slam tiebreak sets over the last 18 months.

Conditions and key moments

Sabalenka said the midday Melbourne sun affected her serve as the match progressed, a factor that helped Mboko stage her second-set recovery. “At some point the sun goes right into your serve [hit] point,” Sabalenka said in her on-court interview. “It’s kind of tricky. That’s what actually happened. Two breaks that she got, it was on the side when I was facing the sun.”

Despite the interruption to her rhythm and failing to convert three match points at 5-4, Sabalenka stayed composed, focusing on one point at a time to see off the 19-year-old Canadian.

What it means

The victory sends Sabalenka into a Grand Slam quarterfinal once again, highlighting her consistency at majors. Her ability to deliver under pressure — particularly in tiebreaks — remains a decisive advantage at the biggest events.

Next up

Sabalenka will face American No. 29 seed Iva Jovic, who advanced to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Yulia Putintseva. The matchup pits Sabalenka’s power and experience against another rising teenager, extending the youth-driven story of this year’s second week in Melbourne.

Match stats: 6-1, 7-6(1), 1h 26m. Sabalenka extends unbeaten Grand Slam tiebreak streak to 20.

Image Referance: https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4439156/sabalenka-raises-her-game-when-it-counts-to-beat-mboko-in-melbourne