World number one Aryna Sabalenka kept her Australian Open title defense dreams alive, grinding out a 6-1, 7-6(1) victory over Victoria Mboko to reach the quarterfinals for the fourth successive edition and her 13th straight Grand Slam quarters.
Sabalenka made headlines by securing her 20th consecutive Grand Slam tiebreak win, shattering Novak Djokovic’s record of 19 unbroken tiebreaks from 2005-2007 – a streak that had stood for nearly 20 years.
The match started with Sabalenka in full flight, wrapping the first set 6-1 in 45 minutes and leading 4-1 in the second. Enter Mboko’s fightback: the teen broke Sabalenka twice, saved three match points, and extended the 12th game to deuce, teeing up a potential third set.
In the clutch tiebreak, however, Sabalenka was ruthless, winning 7-1 to end proceedings after 1:26 on court. Her serve and forehand proved too much.
“She’s got everything to be a star,” Sabalenka said of Mboko. “Pushed me to the limit today. Happy with the straight-sets win.”
Quarterfinal opponent: 29th seed Eva Jovic (USA), who routed Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-1 for her first major quarters. Sabalenka, champion in 2024 and 2025, is hungry for another AO crown.