In a thrilling display of talent at the Australian Open, 18-year-old Iva Jovic, the youngest player in the Top 100, orchestrated a major upset by defeating seventh seed Jasmine Paolini with a scoreline of 6-2, 7-6(3) in the third round. This victory marks Jovic’s first entry into the second week of a Grand Slam tournament, achieved during only her sixth attempt. Prior to this match, Jovic had faced Paolini three times, with two of those encounters resulting in defeats at Indian Wells and the US Open last year.
Jovic expressed her elation after the match, stating, “I’ve been wanting this one for a while now. Had a couple of tough losses. I’m so happy to get through that barrier and get that win today.” In a press conference following her victory, Jovic credited some insightful advice from former ATP World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, whom she spoke with the day before. She explained how Djokovic encouraged her to work on opening the court better and to avoid rushing her shots during play. “I tried to do that, and it ended well. So I’m just going to try to keep listening to Novak,” she said.
Jovic has deep ties to her Serbian heritage, visiting Serbia annually and maintaining strong connections with her family there. Reflecting on her experience meeting Djokovic, she remarked, “It’s pretty insane,” highlighting his kindness and willingness to support the younger generation of players. She expressed gratitude for the valuable guidance he provided.
The impact of Djokovic’s advice was evident in Jovic’s commanding performance. The first set saw her dominate Paolini, who struggled with her rhythm, accumulating 13 unforced errors. However, Paolini adapted her tactics in the second set, putting Jovic to the test as she extended rallies and shifted strategies. Jovic served for the match twice but was unable to convert. Nevertheless, she regained her composure and displayed remarkable focus in the tiebreak, securing her victory with a series of impressive backhands.
Jovic’s ascent in the rankings has been remarkable; she was ranked No. 191 just one year ago, and since then, she has celebrated a WTA Tour title in Guadalajara and reached finals and semifinals in other tournaments early in 2026. With a current record of 10-2 this year, she is poised to continue her impressive journey as she prepares to face Yulia Putintseva in the fourth round. This promising young talent is certainly one to watch in the coming matches, showcasing both skill and determination on her path in professional tennis.