The Ice Queen shows no mercy: Elena Rybakina sweeps past Iva Jovic to reach third round in Australia

Thursday, 16 January 2025 at 05:02

Elena Rybakina avoids complications and defeats teenager Iva Jovic 6-0, 6-3 to continue her journey in the Australian Open. The Kazakh started with an overwhelming performance against Jovic, winning the first set in less than 30 minutes, making it seem like another easy task. However, the 17-year-old American showed courage and competitiveness against one of the top title contenders.

Like her first-round match against Emerson Jones, Rybakina's athleticism and powerful shots were evident as she dominated the pace from both her forehand and backhand. Despite this, Jovic showed resilience and put up a worthy performance in the second set.

Rybakina’s unstoppable serve powers her to straight-sets victory

In the first set, the difference in power and shot-making was clear, with Jovic struggling to counter Rybakina’s serve. In less than 15 minutes, Rybakina was already 4-0 up, having won 16 of the first 19 points.

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Jovic slowly found her rhythm towards the end of the set, earning a few break point opportunities in the 5th game, but it wasn’t enough to break Rybakina. The 2022 Wimbledon champion showed no mercy and closed the set 6-0 on her third set point, with a total of 18 winners and 7 unforced errors.

Rybakina started the second set with another strong service game, extending her streak to 7 consecutive games. However, Jovic never lost her motivation and adjusted her game to counter her opponent’s power, distributing her shots well across the court to push Rybakina wide.

In the second game, they played 9 deuces, with Rybakina having 3 break points, but failing to convert any. Jovic managed to secure her first game of the match after wasting seven game points. The American kept her composure, taking a competitive position in the match and after getting her first break, she took a 3-1 lead.

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However, it only lasted a few minutes before Rybakina upped the pace, “cooling down” the match with short points and flawless serving that left the teenager with little chance to compete in most rallies. The world No. 7 won the last five games consecutively, closing out the match 6-0, 6-3 without any problems.

The 2023 Aussie Open finalist secured her spot in the third round, where she will face Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska (No. 33), who also arrives with confidence after a dominant win over Danka Kovinic 6-0, 6-1.

Exquisite Elena 😮‍💨

No.6 seed Elena Rybakina races into the third round with a 6-0 6-3 win over Jovic! 🏎️#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/UdY4YGh1oQ
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2025

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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