Iva Jovic transforms astonishing advice from Novak Djokovic into a major upset at the Australian Open.

MELBOURNE, Australia

Iva Jovic sought tennis advice from none other than Novak Djokovic ahead of her Australian Open third-round match against Jasmine Paolini, who was seeded seventh. Whatever he told her clearly worked, as the 18-year-old American won decisively with a score of 6-2, 7-6 (3).

This marks Jovic’s first time advancing to the second week of a Grand Slam, especially noteworthy after she faced a straight-set defeat against Paolini during last year’s US Open.

“I actually spoke to Novak a little bit yesterday, and it was just unbelievable,” Jovic shared in a press conference. “He provided some really good tips about my game and what I could incorporate into today’s match.”

The personal connection is further emphasized by her father’s Serbian roots. Djokovic, a national hero in Serbia with an impressive record of 24 Grand Slam titles, stands as a major influence. Jovic frequently visits family in Belgrade and the southern town of Leskovac.

Her Serbian heritage has made both Monica Seles and Djokovic key inspirations for Jovic as she pursued tennis in the United States.

Even though Jovic was broken twice while serving for the match, she managed to stay composed and implemented Djokovic’s advice to secure the win in the tiebreak.

“That was definitely on my mind, because if Novak gives me advice, I’m going to follow it,” she said, smiling.

Part of his recommendation involved opening up the court more and not rushing her shots.

“I tried that, and it turned out well,” she noted. “So, I’ll definitely keep listening to Novak.”

Djokovic, seeking his 25th major win at age 38, is a ten-time champion at Melbourne Park and continues to make his mark as tennis’s most decorated player.

On the same day, Jovic was one of three teenagers who triumphed, with world No. 8 Mira Andreeva reaching the fourth round for the third consecutive year, and 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko setting up a showdown against top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.

Next, Jovic will face Yulia Putintseva, who overcame a spirited crowd to defeat Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez, 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3.

At 31, Putintseva has participated in 14 straight Australian Opens and a total of 44 Grand Slam tournaments, reaching the quarterfinals at Roland Garros and the 2020 US Open twice.

As the youngest player in the women’s top 100, Jovic will approach her first fourth-round major from a fresh perspective; this is only her fifth Grand Slam event.

After his earlier match in the tournament, Jovic expressed in a post-match television interview his admiration for both Seles and Djokovic, acknowledging how special it was to compete at the same event as Djokovic.

“I often reflect on those moments when you get to meet your idols, and it can be a bit disheartening if they aren’t as nice as you hoped,” Jovic said on Friday. “I think he’s genuinely kinder and more caring off camera than people might realize.