'The 18-year-old "Diamond" shines brightly at the 2026 Australian Open'

The teenage beauty is progressing well and is anticipated to be one of the most watchable players on the WTA Tour soon.

Australian Open 2026 is witnessing a teenage star shining brilliantly, creating one of the biggest surprises of the first Grand Slam of the year so far.

In the round of 16 match held on January 23 (Vietnam time), 18-year-old Iva Jovic delivered an impressive performance by defeating world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini, marking her first time advancing to the second week of a Grand Slam tournament. Not only did she secure a crucial victory, but Jovic also avenged previous losses at Indian Wells and the US Open, underscoring the rapid development of one of the most promising talents in American and global tennis.

The match lasted less than two hours, with Jovic starting strong by quickly taking a 3-0 lead in the first set through two consecutive breaks. Although Paolini managed to hold serve once, Jovic swiftly regained control, moving ahead 4-1 and dominating the set. The young player maintained pressure and closed the first set 6-2.

In the second set, the contest became more intense as both players repeatedly broke each other's serve. Jovic led 4-2 and then 5-3 but missed two chances to close the match, losing her serve at 5-4 and 6-5. The match proceeded to a tiebreak, where the 18-year-old showed composure to win 7-3, securing the overall victory.

This was also the first time the Croatian-born player defeated a top 10 opponent. Previously, she had faced Paolini twice and Elena Rybakina once, but had not tasted victory until this year at Melbourne Park.

Jovic’s next opponent will be Yulia Putintseva, who earlier overcame Zeynep Sonmez despite immense pressure from the Turkish crowd. With a relatively open draw, Jovic has a great opportunity to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal.

Born in 2007, Iva Jovic is one of the most promising young talents in women’s tennis worldwide. After success in the junior circuit with two Grand Slam doubles titles alongside Tyra Grant—who chose to represent Italy instead of the US—Jovic stepped into the professional arena and had a breakthrough 2025 season.

Last year, Jovic reached the second round in three Grand Slams: the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and the US Open. She won her first WTA 125 title at the Ilkley Open by defeating Rebecca Marino in June, and just three months later, the 18-year-old claimed the prestigious WTA 500 title in Guadalajara, Mexico, overcoming Emiliana Arango in the final match.

This championship boosted Jovic’s ranking significantly, placing her in the top 40 worldwide, and if she advances further at this year’s Australian Open, the teenage player will surely break into the top 20.