Jovic is 16 months Mboko’s junior, turning 18 simply six weeks earlier than the Australian Open.
She made her skilled bow in June 2022 earlier than reaching the second spherical on her US Open main-draw debut in 2024, together with toppling then world quantity 42 Magda Linette.
Like Mboko, the previous junior world quantity two loved a memorable 2025, most notably capturing her maiden WTA title at September’s Guadalajara Open and climbing into the highest 40.
Warming up for the Australian Open with semi-final and last appearances in Auckland and Hobart respectively, she has reached the fourth spherical in Melbourne with out dropping a set.
Towards Paolini, who she misplaced to in straight units finally 12 months’s US Open, Jovic bulldozed by means of the opener, breaking the Italian’s serve thrice and dominating the baseline exchanges, earlier than holding her nerve within the second-set tie-break after twice failing to serve for the match.
Jovic, who’s of Serbian descent, instructed herself to “exit swinging” within the tie-break and later hailed the help of 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
“I spoke to Novak yesterday somewhat bit. It was fairly unbelievable,” Jovic stated.
“He gave me some very attentive ideas for my recreation – to open the court docket up somewhat bit higher, to not rush into pictures on a regular basis, discover some extra width.
“I attempted to try this and it ended properly. I am simply going to attempt to preserve listening to Novak.”
