Teen Duo Jovic & Mboko Lead Youth Surge at Australian Open

Jovic and Mboko Light Up Melbourne as Teen Power Takes Centre Stage

While the men’s side of the 2026 Australian Open has leaned heavily on veteran firepower, the women’s draw is being rewritten by fearless teenagers—led by Iva Jovic and Victoria Mboko, both reaching the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time in their young careers.

The two have not only impressed in singles, but are also partnered in the doubles draw, where they face fourth seeds Elise Mertens and Zhang Shuai in the second round.

Mboko Stands Tall Ahead of Sabalenka Clash

Canada’s Victoria Mboko, seeded 17th, battled past Danish 14th seed Clara Tauson in three sets to secure a last-16 showdown with world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

• The 19-year-old has been one of the WTA’s fastest-rising stars, named 2025 WTA Newcomer of the Year.

• After starting last year ranked outside the top 300, she surged into the world’s top 20 with a landmark win at the WTA 1000 in Montreal, defeating four Grand Slam champions.

“It’s my first time in the fourth round of a Slam and first time playing the Australian Open—this is really cool,” Mboko said. “There’s a lot of us teenagers in the draw still, and we all want to see each other do well.”

Jovic: Novak’s Advice Paying Off

Nikola Bartunkova, who is up to 107 in the live WTA rankings, beat former top-10 player Daria Kasatkina in round one

American teen Iva Jovic, the 29th seed, stunned seventh seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 7-6(3) in the biggest win of her career. It marked her first top-10 victory and a clear sign that she’s ready to contend.

• The 18-year-old Californian, of Serbian heritage, credited Novak Djokovic for a key pre-match pep talk.

“He gave me tips—open the court up, don’t rush, find more width,” Jovic shared. “I tried it, and it ended well. I’m going to keep listening to Novak.”

• Jovic, a former junior world No. 2, reached the Guadalajara title in 2025 and enters the fourth round in Melbourne without dropping a set.

Czech Young Guns Also Making Noise

The teen takeover doesn’t stop with North America. Czech rising stars Nikola Bartunkova and Tereza Valentova have also caught attention.

• Bartunkova, 19, shocked 10th seed Belinda Bencic in round two before falling to Mertens in round three. Her gritty wins through qualifying earned praise from Andrea Petkovic, who called her “my new favourite player.”

• Valentova, 18, lost to fifth seed Elena Rybakina, but the TK Sparta Prague product is already world No. 54 and part of a strong Czech wave, with eight players in the WTA top 100.

The Changing Face of Women’s Tennis

The 2026 Australian Open is shaping up to be a watershed moment for the women’s game. With established stars watching their backs and teenagers embracing the big stage, the narrative is shifting fast.

• Mboko and Jovic are not just talented—they’re confident, charismatic, and already influencing the sport.

• Their doubles partnership only adds to the buzz: a sign that the future isn’t just coming—it’s already here.