Iva Jovic: The American Teen Sensation Taking the Australian Open by Storm

There’s a saying attributed to the French novelist Marcel Proust, that one should never meet one’s heroes, lest one be disappointed.

Iva Jovic, who defeated top-10 player Jasmine Paolini for the first time in her career, likely wouldn’t agree. She has revered Novak Djokovic since childhood. Last year, she met the 24-time Grand Slam champion for the first time and was thrilled: “He told me I could always reach out to him with questions,” she later told the tennis magazine “Clay”.

Said, done. In Melbourne, at the Australian Open, where men and women compete side-by-side, she sought advice from the master. “I spoke to him before the match. It was incredible. He told me to open up the court a little and not rush my shots. I tried to do that today and it worked great. So I’ll keep listening to Novak.”

Not Like Ben Shelton

The fact that Jovic looks to the 20-years-older Serb for guidance is no coincidence. Her parents are fellow countrymen of Djokovic. Before Iva was born, they emigrated to California. With five years old, the incredible tennis career of Iva Jovic began there. It was long not a matter of course to become a professional tennis player: “When I started playing tennis, it was never about becoming a pro. I wanted to go to a good school and get a good college degree.”

But then came the first successes, and she decided otherwise. Not the usual US college tour as a starting point, as Ben Shelton did, but directly on the professional tour, where she will stay: “The decision was a little taken away from me, but I’m very happy with it now.”

Every Year to Serbia

Jovic’s environment is characterized by remarkable stability. She learned tennis at the “Jack Kramer Club” in Rolling Hills, where future world number ones like Pete Sampras or Lindsay Davenport were also trained. Thomas Gutteridge, her coach, has been training her for four years now. Add Djokovic as an advisor – there aren’t many more anchors than that. This is reflected not only on the court, but also in her personality.

Jovic appears in conversation not like an 18-year-old who only made her debut at a Grand Slam, the US Open, at the end of 2024. Calmly, like a veteran, she got through her press conference in the largest media hall in the facility at Melbourne Park. When the Serbian journalists asked if they could ask questions in Serbian, the press officer of the Australian Open initially blocked it, but Jovic readily answered in her second language.

The Serbian roots are cherished and maintained, every year she goes to Belgrade and Leskovac, in rural southern Serbia: “I have family there. I also love the promenade in Belgrade. That’s my favorite place right now.”

Strong Teenagers at Australian Open

Jovic has already answered questions about her playful potential on the court. The world number eight Jasmine Paolini had little to counter the power and intelligence of the 18-year-old. Only at the end of the second set did a little hope flare up for the Italian, but this was promptly thwarted by Jovic’s nerves of steel.

Jovic is not the only teenager causing a sensation at the Australian Open. Victoria Mboko, a good friend of Jovic’s, is already in the round of sixteen, Mirra Andreeva followed them late in the Australian evening. They all share a great, never arrogant self-confidence and an impressively offensive game.

In September last year, Jovic, then still 17 years old, won her first major WTA title in Guadalajara, in preparation for Melbourne she was in the final in Hobart. The developmental leaps of the young Californian are remarkable.

Almost a Film Star

Jovic missed her very first appearance on the big stage unintentionally. As a 14-year-old, she was cast for “King Richard,” the film about the beginnings of Venus and Serena Williams and their father Richard. Jovic was supposed to play an opponent of Venus in a youth tournament. But the scenes were cut. She will have to wait for her cinematic breakthrough, but it is achieved athletically.

Perhaps she will get a few more tips from Novak Djokovic before this match. He knows how to deal with the mental challenges of the game. And in this case, it certainly won’t hurt to meet your hero more often.