Iva Jovic’s dominant fourth-round victory solidified her status as one of the most promising young talents on the WTA Tour.
The 18-year-old American wasted little time defeating Yulia Putintseva 6-1, 6-0 on Thursday, booking her place in the Australian Open quarter-finals for the first time in her career.
With victory against Putintseva, Jovic equalled a 28-year record held by Venus Williams, and the American will hope to create more history when she takes on Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals.
Who has impressed you the most?
Jovic has become a natural at dictating the pace of play from the baseline, utilising her powerful groundstrokes to move her opponent from corner-to-corner.
Andy Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion, has discussed Jovic’s progress on his podcast, questioning whether the youngster will be able to play her usual game against the world number one.
Andy Roddick questions whether Iva Jovic can play ‘aggressive defence’ against Aryna Sabalenka
“Jovic is really, really, really good. Really complete,” Roddick said on the ‘Served‘ podcast.
“What I want to see next round, and that’s Sabalenka if I’m not mistaken. We’re going to know in the first four games whether she’s able to distribute the way that she has been, which has been crazy impressive, against the pace of Sabalenka.
“It’s a lot easier to distribute and get on top of the court against Putintseva or even against Paolini, who is a great player but isn’t going to beat you back off that baseline.
“We’re going to know in the first four or five games if Jovic is able to be effective playing her stock offering. And I would have told you 10 days ago… we walked in before the tournament started, I walked in, I had just watched Jovic at one of the warm up events.
“I go ‘Jovic is going to be a top five good, quickly. Before the tournament I’m like, ‘she’s the dark horse, she’s the one.’ And look for these little things: Jovic against someone who doesn’t serve well… like Paolini is a good server but she doesn’t serve big. She doesn’t affect your positioning or push you back.
“Putintseva doesn’t push you back. She’s more crafty, her strength is in variety and kind of dragging you down into the gutter a little bit.
“Is Jovic going to be able to hit a first serve return and step in to take control? Or is she going to be two feet further back? And how much does that matter with what she’s trying to do?
“Is she going to be able to play… I call it that aggressive defence where she hits her way out of trouble from the corners. Is she going to be able to do that against Sabalenka?”
Sabalenka has also impressed throughout the tournament. The Belarusian has failed to drop a set in her four matches and looks almost unstoppable as she marches towards a potential third Australian Open title.
Sabalenka, who won the title in 2023 and 2024, has defeated Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah, Bai Zhuoxuan, Anastasia Potapova and Victoria Mboko.
Jovic, meanwhile, has beaten Katy Volynets, Priscilla Hon, Jasmine Paolini and Yulia Putintseva.
Who could Jovic or Sabalenka face in the semi-finals?
The winner of Iva Jovic and Aryna Sabalenka will face Coco Gauff or Elina Svitolina in the Australian Open semi-finals.
Gauff defeated Karolina Muchova in the fourth round, while Svitolina impressively defeated Mirra Andreeva in straight sets.
What would happen if Serena Williams played Aryna Sabalenka in 2025?
Sabalenka has a 5-1 record against Svitolina and a 6-6 record against Gauff.
Jovic, meanwhile, lost the only match she has contested against Svitolina: at the 2026 ASB Classic. Jovic has never played Coco Gauff in a WTA Tour-level match.
