Jovic Notches First Top 10 Win and Grand Slam Breakthrough

Torrance, California native Iva Jovic turned 18 in December, but judging from the poise she displayed in a second-set tiebreak against two-time Grand Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini on Day 7 at the Australian Open, she’s playing way beyond her years.

She put on an impressive display of all-court tennis, teamed with preternatural poise, and earned a 6-2, 7-6(3) triumph – her first Top 10 win and her first in three tries over Paolini, to book her spot in the second week of a major for the first time.

“It feels amazing,” she said. “I’ve been wanting this for a while now, and working really hard for it.”

Jovic, who had a merry contingent of followers about 15 strong behind her player’s box, beamed on court as she thanked them from making the trek from Southern California.

They can stay a while longer, thanks to Jovic’s strong play.

The youngest player inside the Top 100 and the second highest-ranked teenager on tour behind Mirra Andreeva, Jovic has been on the rise for over a year now. She was ranked No.191 at last year’s Australian Open, where she reached the second round, and continued to climb the rankings as she cut her teeth in her first full season on tour in 2025. She arrives in Melbourne ranked No.27, and seeded for the first time at a Slam.

First career top 🔟 victory ☑️

Iva Jovic takes down Paolini to reach the fourth round at the #AO26 👏 pic.twitter.com/XbE6ggSyAS
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 23, 2026

And she’s looking the part.

Jovic took the bull by the horns against No.8-seeded Paolini, taking the play to her as she hugged the baseline and ripped precise groundstrokes that frequently pinned Paolini back and allowed the Southern California to finish.

There was fightback from Paolini, who twice broke when Jovic served for the match at 5-4 and 6-5, but Jovic steadied herself and dominated the tiebreak, winning the final five points to close out her win in one hour and 46 minutes.