Teenage tennis star Iva Jovic has stunned world No.8 Jasmine Paolini to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time – and hopes to have talks with her idol Novak Djokovic. The 18-year-old is now guaranteed £243,000 in prize money after beating Paolini 6-2, 7-6(3) in one hour and 46 minutes to set up a last-16 clash against Yulia Putintseva on Sunday.
The women’s world No. 27 enjoyed a breakthrough 2025 season, winning her first WTA title at the Guadalajara Open. She will now make her Grand Slam fourth-round debut after stunning Paolini to record her first-ever career top-10 win.
And Jovic’s promising career has been influenced by 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic. The American was born in California to Serbian parents and grew up watching him dominate men’s tennis.
Jovic has also been inspired by women’s tennis legend Monica Seles and was asked about both her idols after beating Priscilla Hon in the second round. She said: “Yeah, I definitely had a bit of a Monica Seles in there.
“She has a similar background as well, so I would always look up to her. Novak Djokovic was a big one for me, so it’s pretty cool to be playing a tournament that he’s playing in as well.
“So hopefully I get more chances to speak with him. I know he’s playing tomorrow, but yeah that would be pretty cool.”
Speaking to Clay Magazine last year – Jovic revealed that she had met Djokovic and would ask him for advice in the future. Asked what the conversation was like, she said: “It was informal, relaxed. He just told me: ‘Whenever you have any questions, I’m here for you.’
“He’s very kind, very nice. I was a little shocked, it’s still strange for me that I know him.
“He follows me now, and of course I’ve followed him my whole life. It’s cool that we have a relationship now – I’ll definitely use that and ask him for advice.”
Djokovic, meanwhile, is through to the third round after comfortable wins over Spaniard Pedro Martinez and Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli in his opening two matches at Melbourne Park. The 38-year-old will play Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in the night session at Rod Laver.
The 10-time Aussie Open winner is chasing an all-time record 25th Grand Slam title this fortnight, but is likely to face a tough task. Defending champion Jannik Sinner is a likely semi-final opponent before a potential final against world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday, February 1.