MELBOURNE, Jan 19, (V7N) – Aryna Sabalenka continued her pursuit of a record-equalling third consecutive Australian Open title with a commanding victory over 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva on Sunday, securing her spot in the quarter-finals.

The Belarusian star was in scintillating form on Rod Laver Arena, overpowering the young Russian 6-1, 6-2 in just 62 minutes, extending her unbeaten streak at Melbourne Park to 18 matches. The match was played under sweltering conditions, with temperatures reaching 34 degrees Celsius (93 Fahrenheit).

"I'm super happy to get through this difficult match in straight sets," Sabalenka said. "She's so young but always plays great tennis, so it's always a tough battle against her."

Sabalenka, who will face 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova next, has had a relatively smooth run so far, despite some early inconsistencies. She struggled with her serve in earlier rounds but showed no such vulnerability against Andreeva, starting strong and breaking serve early to dominate the match.

"The conditions earlier in the week were tough, with the ball so heavy," she remarked. "Today, it was flying like a rocket. I hope it stays the same until the end of the tournament."

Sabalenka’s power and precision overwhelmed Andreeva, who struggled to keep up. The reigning champion wrapped up the first set in just 24 minutes, showcasing a combination of powerful groundstrokes and deft touch, including a standout backhand pass to clinch the set.

In the second set, Sabalenka maintained her momentum, breaking early for a 3-1 lead. Although Andreeva briefly showed her talent by saving break points and creating opportunities, Sabalenka remained unyielding, closing out the match with authority.

If Sabalenka triumphs in Melbourne this year, she will join an elite group of players—Martina Hingis, Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf, and Monica Seles—who have won three consecutive Australian Open titles.

Meanwhile, Pavlyuchenkova advanced by defeating Croatia's 18th seed Donna Vekic 7-6 (7/0), 6-0. Vekic, struggling with a knee injury, required medical treatment after the first set, but Pavlyuchenkova capitalized to secure her fourth quarter-final appearance at the Australian Open.

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