Aryna Sabalenka swept past teenage opponent Iva Jovic on Tuesday, claiming a commanding 6-3, 6-0 quarter-final triumph at the Australian Open to book her place in the last four.
The victory comes after Ukrainian tennis player Oleksandra Oliynykova demanded the world number one, 27, and fellow competitors from Russia and Belarus be expelled from professional tennis entirely.
The Belarusian, who lifted the Melbourne trophy in both 2023 and 2024, is pursuing a third Australian Open crown in four years.
Sabalenka conceded just three games against the 18-year-old American, continuing her flawless run through the tournament without dropping a set.
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This latest victory means Sabalenka has now achieved a remarkable record, having progressed to at least the semi-final stage in 12 of her past 13 grand slam appearances.
The final score belied the competitive nature of many rallies, with Jovic frequently matching Sabalenka in exchanges only to find herself on the losing side when it mattered most.
The pivotal moment arrived in a gruelling ninth game of the opening set, which stretched to 10 minutes as Sabalenka fended off three break point opportunities before converting her third set point.
After the match, Sabalenka said: "These teenagers are testing me in the last couple of rounds. She's an incredible player, it was a tough match - don't look at the score, it wasn't easy at all. I'm super happy with the win, it was a tough battle."
Aryna Sabalenka swept past teenage opponent Iva Jovic on Tuesday
|GETTY
Melbourne experienced its most extreme temperatures in 17 years on Tuesday, with the mercury forecast to climb to approximately 45C.
The scorching conditions prompted tournament officials to shut the Rod Laver Arena roof shortly before 1.30pm, just as Sabalenka was completing her post-match interview.
At that point, the tournament's heat-stress scale had reached its maximum of five, the level at which protective measures become mandatory.
The scale measures multiple factors, including air temperature, radiant heat, humidity and wind speed, to assess whether conditions remain safe for competitors.
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Calls for Sabalenka to be banned were renewed after Oliynykova crashed out in the early stages
|GETTY
The 27-year-old said: "At the end of the match, it was really hot out there."
Officials had anticipated the extreme weather and restructured the day's programme accordingly, pushing back the wheelchair competition until Wednesday and bringing forward junior matches to a 9am start.
Later junior fixtures were rescheduled to begin no earlier than 6.30pm, ensuring all daytime matches concluded before the most stringent heat protocols would have forced postponements on uncovered courts.
Sabalenka joked about the timing of the roof closure: "I guess, as a woman, we are stronger than the guys, so they had to close the roof for the guys so they don't suffer."
Five facts for tennis fans | GETTY/PADespite her success, calls for Sabalenka to be banned were renewed after Oliynykova crashed out in the early stages.
The world number 92 donned a T-shirt bearing a pointed message: "I need your help to protect Ukrainian children and women, but I can't talk about it here."
She subsequently told The Age that permitting athletes from Belarus and Russia to compete was "very wrong" given the ongoing conflict devastating her homeland.
Oliynykova said: "It's very wrong that they are not disqualified in tennis like in other sports. I know that here is the picture that we are all tennis girls playing, but the people don't see the things behind it. The people with money and power, they are using this to support aggression against my country."
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