Under the roof of the Rod Laver Arena due to the heatwave, Alexander Zverev dominated the young American Learner Tien (20 years old) this Tuesday (6-3, 6-7 [5]6-1, 7-6 [3]) to find the last square. World number 1 Aryna Sabalenka, for her part, put an end to the journey of Iva Jovic (18 years old, 27th in the world) in the quarterfinals (6-3, 6-0).
The heatwave
Extreme heat hits Melbourne and as announced, the quarter-finals will be played indoors this Tuesday under the roof of the Rod Laver Arena. Because 45 degrees have been reached. If the first quarter of the women’s draw between Aryna Sabalenka and Iva Jovic was played with the roof open, while the mercury indicated “only” 38°C, the protocol index “extreme heat”which takes into account heat and humidity in particular, reached its maximum of 5 around 1:30 p.m. (3:30 a.m. in France) and the organization decided to close the roof at the end of the game.
Alexander Zverev and Learner Tien thus entered a closed Rod Laver Arena cooled by air conditioning. 45°C was announced around 5 p.m. in Melbourne. Matches counting for doubles and junior tournaments, scheduled on the unroofed side courts, have been interrupted. The wheelchair tennis tournament, which was to begin Tuesday, was postponed by a day.
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The fight
Very solid in key moments, Alexander Zverev, very inspired in his service, tamed the young Learner Tien, 20, in four sets (6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-6(3)), this Tuesday. The outgoing finalist returns to the final four in Melbourne for the fourth time and for the tenth time in a Grand Slam. As a regular. He will face the winner of the duel between Carlos Alcaraz and Alex de Minaur.
The declaration
“It’s been a long, long time since I played against someone so strong from the baseline. I don’t know what (his trainer) Michael Chang has done in recent months. Without my service, I would not have won.declared Zverev, author of 24 aces for only one double fault (on match point in the deciding game of the 4th set) and 72% of firsts.
The number
Zverev will play his 10th Grand Slam semi-final on Friday. Among active players, only Novak Djokovic did better (53 before his quarter against Lorenzo Musetti on Wednesday).
At the state
If he has already lost against Leraner Tien (Acapulco in the round of 16 in 2025), Alexander Zverev did not flinch against the American left-hander last night. The German is definitely comfortable against left-handers. Illustration with this account stat Set and Math Game which reveals that he has now won 38 of his 39 duels against left-handers. It was more complicated for him when Nadal was still playing (4 wins, 7 losses)…
The title holder
Quickly done, very well done. World number one Aryna Sabalenka sent the young American Iva Jovic, 18, back to her studies (6-3, 6-0) in 1h29. The Belarusian has still not lost a single set in five matches this year. Impressive (31 winning shots against 12 and no breaks conceded), she overtook the revelation of the women’s tournament (27e world).
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Good for serving with 6 aces (including 1 on match point), the 27-year-old champion returns to the Australian final four for the fourth year in a row and the twelfth time in the last 13 Grand Slam tournaments in which she has participated. She will face the American Coco Gauff (3rd) or the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (12th) on Thursday.
Future
The night session will begin with the quarter between Coco Gauff and Elina Svitolina, who defeated Mirra Andreeva in the eighth. Favorite of the Australian public, local Alex De Minaur will try to overthrow world number one Carlos Alcaraz. Beaten in his first six Grand Slam quarter-finals, the Australian also lost the five duels he fought against the Spaniard.
Rod Laver Arena
(not before 9:00 a.m.) Coco Gauff (USA/N.3) – Elina Svitolina (UKR/N.12)
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP/N.1) – Alex De Minaur (AUS/N.6)
