AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 19, 2026

Iva Jovic

Press Conference

I. JOVIC/K. Volynets

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Iva, congrats on the win. How does it feel to be through to the second round again here?

IVA JOVIC: It feels good. It was a solid match. Katie is a tough opponent. She played well. Made a lot of balls. It was super windy. So a lot of different conditions to deal with but, obviously, happy to be through.

Q. It's your third week of the season but you have already played a lot of matches. I'm curious what you made of what's been going well for you and how you have been able to maintain this momentum?

IVA JOVIC: Honestly, it all feels like one big tournament because I feel like I've almost been playing every day. And then I have doubles tomorrow.

So it's nice. I like when I get to play a lot of matches and build momentum. So, for me, it feels really nice to have that continuity.

But, obviously, I worked really hard in the pre-season. I think I made a lot of advancements. And thankfully that's showing up early, early in the season, which is nice. It doesn't always do that. But you kind of just have to trust the work that you've done.

Q. After such a breakthrough season last year, I'm curious what did you go into the off-season wanting to kind of improve, I guess, and work on to take your game to an even higher level?

IVA JOVIC: Yeah, I think there was a couple of specific things I was working on. There was a lot of physical stuff in the gym, getting stronger, getting faster, quicker. A couple of technical tweaks with my ground strokes with my serve, which took time as well.

I took a pretty long pre-season, so I had a lot of time to get everything done. And there was a lot of long days, but it's definitely starting to click now. And hopefully I can keep improving as the year goes on.

Q. You were pretty relaxed yesterday. How did you feel waking up this morning and getting ready for the match?

IVA JOVIC: Honestly, I was so relaxed. Almost too relaxed. I was like, Why do I feel like this? I woke up. I wanted to sleep more.

And then I got here and my court was going so fast. It was like record time. I'm rushing from warmup to try to make it to my match because everyone was just getting smoked on my court.

So it was kind of just like a whirlwind. I've never seen two guys' matches play in like an hour and 20 each.

But yeah, I kind of just rocked up on the court right after warmup and finishing eating. So I was just kind of, All right, let's go and do this.

Q. Do you think it helped you at all, no time to sit around and think about it?

IVA JOVIC: Yeah. I think probably you don't want to be as rushed as I was today but, again, you have to be flexible with tennis because you really don't know when you're going to go on.

But I've played, what, nine matches before today already, so you're kind of in the groove a little already and it's auto-pilot I think.

Q. How did you and Vicky Mboko become friends?

IVA JOVIC: I've known Vicky for quite a while. We were in juniors together. We played each other junior US Open third round like three years ago, four years ago maybe. She killed me.

And then she's just such a funny kid. I mean, she's an unbelievable player, but she's so goofy off the court. And we have so much fun together.

We played each other, grinded together in the ITF circuit a lot last year. We were playing I think first round at like a 75K, last year, less than a year ago.

So we kind of just did the whole path together. And it's really nice to see her doing so well and to kind of be here together. And we're playing doubles tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to that.

Q. Does it feel any different being a seed? Actually be able to do it and see the number next to your name?

IVA JOVIC: Yeah, I think it's really nice just to achieve the goal. I don't think it changes a lot with how you approach the matches. I think you still want to play as good as you can and take it one match at a time.

But it's really nice to not have to be so nervous when the draw's coming out. You're like, Oh my God, I could kind of just play the 1 seed first round.

So, the other slams I kind of was like really antsy watching the draw ceremony and everything. And then for this one I was like, I'll see it later, it's okay, it's not going to be horrifying either way.

Q. Everything is still sort of new. I'm curious if you're establishing routines at different tournaments and things that you feel like you maybe go back to, you feel like you're still maybe tweaking a little bit?

IVA JOVIC: Yeah, I think it's a little bit of both. There are certain things I think are good. I have good routines and good habits for the most part. But I'm still learning a lot every day from the veterans on tour and the circumstances that I have to adjust to.

So I think you have to have a little bit of both. Be stubborn with what works for you, but also be willing to grow and change.

Q. Curious what time did you actually get here?

IVA JOVIC: I got here at, I think, like 1. Then I warmed up in the gym. Then I went on the court at like 2:30 to hit.

By the time I finished hitting, it was late in the second set. Then by the time I changed my clothes, it was - into like a match outfit - it was like 3-0 Fokina in the third. I was like, Oh my God, what's going on right now? Then I just ate really quickly and ran to the court.

So, yeah, it was just a couple of hours. But now I'm happy because I get to finish a little earlier.

Q. Have you been on the other end yet where there is a ridiculously long men's match and you're just waiting around trying to figure out what to do?

IVA JOVIC: Yeah, yeah. Usually I get those courts (laughter). Usually I get the courts that are really, really long.

But it's funny, because now for the next match I'm going to warm up early and it's going to be like five hours. That's always how it is.

Q. (Question about Priscilla.)

IVA JOVIC: I've never played Priscilla. I know her quite well. We've practiced together a couple of times. She's nice, super friendly. Strikes the ball really well. Super talented. Has some dicing, some chipping as well.

So I think it will be a tricky match. And being an Aussie at the Australian Open is always difficult to play against. So, it will be quite the atmosphere, definitely.

I also have some family here though, too, and they're quite loud, so it will be the Jovic's against a lot of Aussies.

Q. Maybe on a show court. Must be excited about that?

IVA JOVIC: Yeah, I'm super excited. That's what you want going into a Grand Slam. It's really special.

Q. Is your family from Melbourne or...

IVA JOVIC: Great question. No, they flew over here. About 15 of my cousins are here in Melbourne. They're doing a vacation as well, but they're here watching. I don't think a lot of players can say their family has travelled to the other side of the world to watch me play.

And they have shirts with my name on them. So it's quite an elaborate thing. But they're ready to go. They are ready to cheer. We are going to give them specific instructions to be loud for the next one. Yeah, I love it.