The youngest player in the Top 100, 18-year-old Iva Jovic, dealt out the biggest upset of the tournament so far with a 6-2, 7-6(3) third-round defeat of No. 7 seed Jasmine Paolini.
The result put No. 29 seed Jovic into the second week of a major for the first time at just her sixth attempt. It’s also her first win over a Top 10 player in four meetings. Two of the teenager’s three previous losses had come against Paolini, at Indian Wells and the US Open last year.
Australian Open: Scores | Draws | Order of play
“I’ve been wanting this one for a while now,” Jovic said in her on-court interview. “Had a couple of tough losses. I’m so happy to get through that barrier and get that win today.”
After dominating a 37-minute first set against an over-pressing Paolini — the Italian tallied 13 unforced errors and just four winners in the opener — Jovic had to battle hard in the second. Two-time major finalist Paolini adjusted her tactics, pumping high balls to Jovic’s backhand and extending the rallies. Jovic served for the match twice at 5-4 and 6-5, but was unable to close the deal.
But despite those setbacks, it was younger player who got on the front foot in an impeccable tiebreak, taking the lead with sweetly-timed backhands down the line and reaching match point with a bold return winner — her 20th of the match.
“I tried to focus on what I was doing earlier in the match,” Jovic said. “Being really aggressive and controlling the play. 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.”
The result continues a rapid rise for Jovic, who was ranked No. 191 this time last year. She captured her first title on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz in Guadalajara last September, and started 2026 in fine form by reaching the Auckland semifinals and Hobart final. Her record this year is already 10-2, and she’ll have the opportunity to extend that further against Yulia Putintseva in the fourth round.
More to come…
