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18-year-old American Iva Jovic orchestrates a big game australian opendefeated Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2 7-6(3) and secured her first title. grand slam Round of 16 appearance.
The victory marked a pivotal moment in the youngster’s career, extending her tour-leading winning streak to 10 matches in 2026.
Jovic, the 29th seed, turned the tables on Paolini, who had beaten her at Indian Wells and the U.S. Open last year, in her first victory over a top-10 player.
Looking back on the achievement, she said: “It feels amazing and I’ve been working towards this. I’ve wanted this for a while. I’ve had a few tough losses. I’m just happy to be able to overcome this obstacle and get the win today.”
In this game, Jovic served to win, and then Paolini counterattacked to tie the score into a tiebreaker.
However, the American showed remarkable composure to win the final five points to set up a fourth-round match with Yulia Putintseva.
Jovic explained her strategy: “I was trying to focus on what I was doing earlier in the match, being really aggressive and controlling the match. I think when I was serving, I was a little too passive. So I told myself to go out and swing, and that helped in the tiebreak.”
World number eight Paolini took a medical timeout in the first set and later revealed she was hampered by a stomach problem.
“I think I was lying on the sofa after lunch, which was not a good idea for my stomach. I stepped on the court and couldn’t move at my best,” she admitted.
Despite the discomfort, Paolini was full of praise for her young opponent, saying: “She’s already a very tough opponent – very mature on the court, doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. Basically, she hits every shot well. So I think she has a very bright future.”
Adding another layer to her unforgettable day, Jovic, whose parents are Serbian immigrants, revealed she had received advice from tennis legend Novak Djokovic ahead of her match against Paolini.
“I talked to Novak for a while yesterday, so that was incredible. He gave me some really detailed game tips that I could try to incorporate into this fight that I just had,” she shared.
“So that’s one of my biggest concerns, because I think when Novak gives you some advice, you follow it,” she added with a smile.
“You always think about those moments where you’re going to meet your idol… it’s awesome. He’s so smart and really wants to help the younger generation. So I’m really grateful to get that advice.”
Jovic’s victory capped an unforgettable day for North American juniors, with Canadian 19-year-old Victoria Mboko also advancing with a 7-6(5) 5-7 6-3 victory over Clara Tauson.