Iva Jovic has stormed into the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, where she will meet world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka has been backed to win the Australian Open, where she is the number one seed and former two-time champion.
The Belarusian now takes on American Jovic for a place in the Australian Open semifinals, with the duo having yet to meet on the WTA Tour.
Currently in her career-high rank of number 27 in the world, 29th seed Jovic just thrashed Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-1 in the fourth round.
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Iva Jovic hopeful of having enough to beat Aryna Sabalenka
American teenager Jovic, who knocked top 10 player Jasmine Paolini out of the Australian Open, has now previewed her next challenge.
Sabalenka knocked out Victoria Mboko in round four, with Jovic saying of that tie: “I didn’t see a ton of that match, because I was kind of warming up and getting ready for my own at the time.
“I’ll definitely have to do some research. Not that there’s a lot of secrets with her being number one and all. There is a lot of video and opportunity to see what she does.
“So yeah, I’m just excited. I’m in the quarters, which is amazing for me. So, you’re going to play one of the best players at this stage of the tournament.
“That’s what you want. I’m just trusting the level that I have been able to put out, and hopefully that will be enough.”
Aryna Sabalenka will NOT end the year as world number one – prove us wrong!
Iva Jovic confident of competing at the highest level amid Australian Open run
Jovic can indeed avenge Mboko, who she had been playing doubles with at the Australian Open before their second round exit.
The loss will, however, allow the 18-year-old to fully focus on the singles format in Melbourne, where she is enjoying her best-ever Grand Slam run.
Sharing what she’s learned about herself at the hard-court tournament, Jovic commented: “Yeah, I think it’s great.
“I think I have just learned that I’m very resilient, and I have just learned to trust myself and all the work that I have put in.
“I have had good results obviously, and I have been doing quite well, even last year, but obviously the Slams are where you want to do well.
“Being here in a Slam just gives me belief that I can be at the highest level of tennis, and hopefully be consistently having these results.”
Despite her very brief WTA career so far, the teenager has already tasted success, winning in Guadalajara last season.
But she will be well aware of the threat posed by Sabalenka, who is a 22-time WTA champion, with four Grand Slam titles among her honors.
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