American teenager Iva Jović pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 Australian Open on Friday, defeating seventh-seeded Jasmine Paolini to secure her maiden victory over a top-ten-ranked player. She also advanced to the second week of a major for the first time in her career.
During her post-match press conference, Jović opened up about a crucial conversation with Novak Djokovic that helped her get the win.
Iva Jović on Novak Djokovic’s Advice Before Jasmine Paolini Clash at Australian Open
The youngest player in the WTA Top 100, Jović delivered a commanding 6-2, 7-6(3) third-round victory over World No. 8 Paolini, following two previous losses against the Italian. The 29th seed’s victory marked a significant breakthrough in her career trajectory, securing her first-ever win against a top-ten competitor.
When reporters asked whether Djokovic had offered her any recent advice, Jović’s face lit up instantly. She revealed an important conversation that took place just one day before facing Paolini at the Australian Open.
“Yeah, I actually spoke to Novak yesterday a little bit. So it was pretty incredible, and he gave me some very attentive tips for my game and something I can try to incorporate into this match that I just played,” Jović said, highlighting the conversation with her idol.
The guidance from Djokovic proved crucial as the specific adjustments proved decisive. “It was just to open up the court a little bit better, to not rush into the shots all the time, find some more width,” she said. Jović showed respect to the Serb’s expertise, emphasizing, “I think when Novak gives you some advice, you follow it. I’m just going to try to keep listening to Novak,” she concluded.
The connection between Jović and Djokovic originated at Wimbledon in 2025, when her coach, Kathy Rinaldi, introduced the American to her idol. “He just wished me luck and told me to keep working,” she said when talking about the conversation with the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Jović’s Triumph Against Paolini
Jović opened dominantly against Paolini, taking the first set 6-2 in just 37 minutes. The Italian committed 13 unforced errors and produced only four winners in the first set, demonstrating Jović’s dominance from the outset. However, the two-time Grand Slam finalist changed her gameplay in the second set, targeting Jović’s backhand to extend rallies and regain competitive balance in the match.
The second set proved considerably tighter than the first one. Jović served for the match on two occasions at 5-4 and 6-5 but was broken both times, forcing a decisive tiebreak. Jović composed herself in the tiebreak, executing 20 return winners throughout the match and winning the final five consecutive points to secure 7-6(3).
The American is now set to face the Kazakh star Yulia Putintseva in the fourth round on Sunday, January 25, with a 54% chances of advancing to her career’s first quarterfinals at a Grand Slam, according to PFSN’s exclusive interactive simulator.
