Australian Open interviewer walks off with Aryna Sabalenka’s watch: ‘It costs a lot’

Aryna Sabalenka was in a generous mood after victory in the Australian Open quarter-finals, as she lent interviewer Jelena Dokic her watch.

The two-time champion booked her spot in the last four Down Under in emphatic fashion on Tuesday, with a straight sets win over US teenager Iva Jovic.

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Having triumphed over 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko in the fourth round, Sabalenka was once again tasked with overcoming a rising star.

And she had no trouble second time around in Melbourne, dropping just three games in a 6-3 6-0 victory.

This saw the 27-year-old book her spot in a fourth consecutive Australian Open semi-final, where she will face Elina Svitolina.

The Ukrainian pulled off a shock upset by thrashing Coco Gauff 6-1 6-2 in their last eight encounter to progress.

Despite a dominant scoreline, Sabalenka admitted Jovic had pushed her far more than meets the eye, taking an hour and 29 minutes to get past the 18-year-old.

Watch this space

Sabalenka was in good spirits in her on-court interview after her latest victory, which ended in the world no.1 letting reporter Dokic walk away in her expensive watch.

The four-time major winner has caught the eye with her fashion choices Down Under, sporting a diamond-clad look after collaborating with Material Good to make custom jewellery for the tournament.

As an Audemars Piguet ambassador, Sabalenka also honoured her sponsorship deal by putting on her watch for her post-match interview after brushing past Jovic.

This immediately drew Dokic’s attention, who said: “You’re dazzling us with your tennis, there’s something else that’s dazzling us.

“I’m going blind here, your diamonds, everywhere.”

X @StanSportAU

X @StanSportAU

Then came the cheeky request, as Dokic playfully suggested Sabalenka lend her her luxury timepiece to lighten her load.

The Belarusian was sporting an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked watch, rumoured to be worth around $120,000 (£87,300).

Dokic went on: “I want to help you, as you go further in this tournament, it’s hot, you need to recover well, it looks heavy.

“I think you should give it to me so that I look after it.”

And Sabalenka duly obliged, as she replied: “For you, anything, my dear,” before taking off her watch and handing it over.

A stunned Dokic came back: “Really? Do I want to know how much this costs?”

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“A lot,” laughed Sabalenka, who told Dokic to take off her existing watch before helping her put the Audemars Piguet accessory on.

As the hilarious interaction continued, Dokic made sure to check that Sabalenka was well covered should anything happen to her luxury timepiece.

The player-turned pundit quizzed: “Can I just ask, I don’t want to know how much this costs, but do we have insurance? You trust me this much?”

“I’m pretty sure we do,” Sabalenka replied, before telling Dokic: “So I’ll get it back tomorrow. I trust you.”

Former world no.4 Dokic then kept the watch on as the world no.1 grabbed her bags and waved to the Rod Laver Arena crowd.

And while the presenter will enjoy her brief spell with the expensive jewellery item, Sabalenka will turn her attention to Thursday’s semi-final encounter with Svitolina, as she targets a fourth straight final appearance in Australia.