Why a US 18yo rejects the 'underdog' tag against world No.1 Sabalenka

[ad_1] Not lengthy after reserving an Australian Open quarterfinal berth, Iva Jović expressed quiet confidence about her possibilities of defeating upcoming opponent, Aryna Sabalenka.

As match-ups go, few are harder than going through world primary Sabalenka on a court docket the place she has twice lifted the championship trophy.

It might be straightforward to counsel Jović is solely having fun with the innocence of youth, given she is eighteen and the youngest participant inside the highest 100 on the WTA rankings.

However the American is just not a naïve teenager, blindly caught up within the second at Melbourne Park.

Sabalenka's strategy to being world primary Aryna Sabalenka reveals why she has not modified since topping the world rankings.

The world quantity 27 has unwavering self-belief in her sport, and few may argue about her potential after watching her destroy Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-1 within the fourth spherical.

"I do not actually really feel like there may be plenty of home cash or underdog mentality that I am feeling," Jović mentioned.

"As a result of I do not really feel like I've been enjoying something exterior of my consolation zone or exterior of my regular degree.

"I've come from two different tournaments the place I used to be enjoying every single day and successful plenty of matches, as effectively.

"So this week and the extent that I am exhibiting proper now would not actually really feel a lot totally different than that.

"it is simply one other week that I am successful extra matches, which is good to see."

Iva Jović is the youngest participant within the high 100 on the WTA rankings. ( Getty pictures: Clive Brunskill )

Jović's run to the final eight has been spectacular.

She is but to drop a set and amongst her victories was a 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) defeat of seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, who's a two-time main finalist and former world quantity 4.

Jović didn't have to play herself into type, having made the ultimate and semifinal of two Australian Open lead-up occasions, in Hobart and Auckland, respectively.

Her 2025 season underlined her standing as a star on the rise, highlighted by her win on the Guadalajara WTA 500 occasion as a 17-year-old.

<h2 class="Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B future_heading__Gcudw Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s" data-component="Heading">Jović prepared for Sabalenka Sabalenka, who received the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024, will likely be a distinct proposition to Jović's earlier opponents in Melbourne.

She arrived on the match on the again of successful the Brisbane Worldwide and has barely been challenged on her approach to the quarterfinals.

Jović, although, is just not intimidated by the Belarusian.

Aryna Sabalenka has twice received the Australian Open. ( Getty Photos: Fred Lee )

Whereas buzzing to have come this far on the season-opening main, she sees no purpose why she can't compete in opposition to Sabalenka.

"I am simply excited. I am within the quarters, which is wonderful for me," Jović mentioned.

"So you are going to be enjoying among the best gamers at this stage of the match. That is what you need.

"I am simply trusting the extent that I've been in a position to put out and hopefully that will likely be sufficient."

Tuesday's quarterfinal would be the first time Sabalenka and Jović have performed one another on the WTA Tour.

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