Eighteen-year-old Iva Jovic achieved a career milestone by defeating Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 7-6(3) at the Australian Open on Friday, marking her first Grand Slam fourth-round appearance. Jovic turned the tide against Paolini, who had previously beaten her at the Indian Wells and the U.S. Open last year. This victory also marked Jovic's first win over a top-10 player, extending her winning streak to 10 matches in 2026.
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"It feels amazing; I’ve been working really hard for it. I’m just so happy to get through that barrier and get the win today," Jovic said. Although she had a chance to serve for the match, Paolini fought back to force a tiebreak. In the tiebreak, Jovic displayed remarkable composure, winning the last five points to secure her spot in the next round against Yulia Putintseva.
"I tried to focus on what I was doing earlier in the match, being really aggressive and controlling the play," Jovic explained. "I think when I served for the match, I got a little too passive. So I told myself to go out swinging, and it helped in the tiebreak."
It was a significant day for North American teenagers, as Canadian 19-year-old Victoria Mboko also advanced with a 7-6(5) 5-7 6-3 win over Clara Tauson. Following her match, Paolini, ranked eighth in the world, mentioned that she took a medical timeout early on due to a stomach issue. "I think I lay down on the sofa after lunch, and that wasn’t a good idea for my stomach," she said. Despite the setback, Paolini praised Jovic's performance, noting, "She’s a very tough opponent already—very mature on court, not many mistakes. I think she has a really bright future ahead."