Aryna Sabalenka vs Aussie heat warning? No problem as World No.1 seals mesmerizing straight sets win over Iva Jovic to reach Australian Open semi-finals

Iva Jovic, the 18-year-old dynamo will head towards the top 20 as a result of her run this past fortnight at the Australian Open but perhaps slightly expected, it was heart but no match for the World No.1 as Aryna Sabalenka raced past the rising star to set up a potential semi-final meeting with Coco Gauff.

Gauff albeit won't have it easy when she takes on Elina Svitolina later today but either will have it easy against the two-time champion as she aims for redemption after being denied the hat-trick last year against Madison Keys.

Jovic really put up a fight in the opening set going down 6-3 but as the heat rating nudged up inside the Australian Open and the threat of the roof closing became evident, Sabalenka raced to the finish bagelling Jovic in the second set and showing that despite the brilliant run that there is truly levels to this game between the World No.1 and the rest.

According to Mary Joe Fernandez on the coverage, Sabalenka wanted the roof closed already right at the start of the match. Jovic was fine with it being open but this only benefited Sabalenka in the early stages who was crushing Jovic.

She opened up with a hold of serve. She produced an ace to set up game point with an unreturnable serve to win it. Jovic hit a superb backhand winner to open but showed that she will not be bowed by the power albeit Sabalenka is much more than that which makes it such a tough mission.

As she soon found out as Sabalenka broke in an ominous sign. Even though she got the first serves in, Sabalenka won two out of three points when the first serve was made. A few unforced errors already from Jovic including sending the ball long to surrender her serve as Sabalenka went 2-0 up.

Jovic crushed a winner off Sabalenka's second serve stepping a pace inside the baseline and hitting a forehand into the open court. But Sabalenka got six serves in play and won every point she had to go 3-0 up. Jovic looked to finally get on the board going 40-15 up on her own serve but Sabalenka kept the pressure on making it deuce and suddenly had a break point for 4-0 albeit Jovic saved it and went to advantage and finally held for 3-1.

Albeit despite finally holding, the pressure continued from Sabalenka who held for 4-1 and then was immediately 40-15 up on Jovic's next service game which would be the death knell for the opening set if Sabalenka was to claim it.

But three break points came and went as Jovic held firm. Albeit as did Sabalenka who went out to a 40-0 lead albeit she dropped a couple of points off the back of double faulting. But an unforced error from Jovic put Sabalenka on the brink of the opening set leading 5-2.

Sabalenka raced to a drop shot and earned a winner but Jovic held firm again to prolong it but Sabalenka held to win the first. Albeit after the longest game so far at over 10 minutes long. She lost a point on first serve for the first time in the game. Jovic managed to force a break point but an ace saved it and despite Jovic ot going away for a third break point, Sabalenka exerted further power again to hold on and claim the set after 59 minutes.

Jovic in reality could have done one of two things after losing that first set, fight back or wilt both literally and figuratively in the heat of the Aussie summer.

But despite fighting, she was broken immediately to begin the second set with untimely errors getting in her way as Sabalenka's powerful groundstrokes immediately handed her the lead.

There was nothing really stopping Sabalenka as she sealed another hold with an ace to go 2-0 up and she broke again for 3-0. On her own serve, she did not cough up a single point showing the real difference as in set one as Sabalenka grew into the tie, she was handing Jovic chances but she seemed in a hurry likely due to the heat to get out of there and she surged into a 4-0 lead to go two away from a quick win over the American.

Jovic sent a stretched backhand long to hand Sabalenka the double break. The heat scale also nudged to level four which means it is just one away from the roof being shut and outside games being halted. Sabalenka will look to get out of there before it is a problem.

Sabalenka broke her resistance again as a double fault handed Sabalenka another break of serve and gave her the chance to serve for the match in double quick time.

Albeit Jovic did ask the question as Sabalenka didn't manage to get out of there straight away. She went 40-15 up just as Sabalenka had the finishing line in sight and albeit had a huge mountain to climb when it came to getting any foothold, it showed that there was still some fight there.

Albeit that slightly dissipated as Sabalenka levelled at deuce from 15-40 down and was set to turn on the afterburners towards match point. A fight from Jovic that swiftly ended as Sabalenka claimed the win in just under an hour and a half.