Jovic is 16 months Mboko’s junior, turning 18 just six weeks before the Australian Open.
She made her professional bow in June 2022 before reaching the second round on her US Open main-draw debut in 2024, including toppling then world number 42 Magda Linette.
Like Mboko, the former junior world number two enjoyed a memorable 2025, most notably capturing her maiden WTA title at September’s Guadalajara Open and climbing into the top 40.
Warming up for the Australian Open with semi-final and final appearances in Auckland and Hobart respectively, she has reached the fourth round in Melbourne without dropping a set.
Against Paolini, who she lost to in straight sets at last year’s US Open, Jovic bulldozed through the opener, breaking the Italian’s serve three times and dominating the baseline exchanges, before holding her nerve in the second-set tie-break after twice failing to serve for the match.
Jovic, who is of Serbian descent, told herself to “go out swinging” in the tie-break and later hailed the support of 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
“I spoke to Novak yesterday a little bit. It was pretty incredible,” Jovic said.
“He gave me some very attentive tips for my game – to open the court up a little bit better, to not rush into shots all the time, find some more width.
“I tried to do that and it ended well. I’m just going to try to keep listening to Novak.”
