Jovic, 18, beats Paolini again to reach Ningbo quarter-finals

Iva Jovic has the measure of Jasmine Paolini. The 18-year-old American, seeded fourth at the Ningbo Open, beat the Italian 6-4, 6-3 in 1 hour and 23 minutes on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the WTA 500 event in China.

It was the fourth meeting between the two, according to the WTA, and Jovic's second win over Paolini in 2026 after she had already knocked the Italian out in the third round of the Australian Open in January.

Paolini's fast start not enough

Paolini, who had opened her week with a win over Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina, started brightly and broke early to lead 3-1, Corriere dello Sport reported. Jovic, who had a first-round bye as a seed, quickly drew level and then found the decisive break in the ninth game before serving out the opening set.

The second set belonged to the teenager from the start. Jovic raced to a 3-0 lead, and although Paolini clawed back one of the breaks, she never threatened to turn the match around. Italian reports pointed to Paolini's serve deserting her at key moments and to the quality of Jovic's returning, which repeatedly put the former Roland Garros and Wimbledon finalist under pressure.

For Jovic, currently ranked No. 12, the win is another marker of a breakthrough season in which she has climbed into the upper reaches of the rankings while still a teenager. Beating a top-tier opponent like Paolini twice in one season underlines how quickly she has adapted to the week-in, week-out demands of the WTA Tour.

Shnaider next, Rybakina still in the mix

A place in the semi-finals is now at stake against Diana Shnaider, the No. 6 seed, who beat Alexandra Eala to set up the meeting.

The other half of the draw is headed by defending champion and top seed Elena Rybakina, who advanced earlier in the week when Polina Kudermetova retired injured with Rybakina leading 5-0. Rybakina, who is returning from injury, faces unseeded Pole Katarzyna Kawa in the quarter-finals after Kawa ousted Belinda Bencic.

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Ningbo is the last stop of the Asian swing before the season-ending WTA Finals, whose field was completed on Wednesday when Karolina Muchová secured the final spot. Tennis Temple reported that Jovic's run keeps her in contention for an alternate place at the championships.

Another early exit for Paolini

For Paolini, the defeat continues a difficult autumn. The Italian, who reached the Ningbo final last year before losing to Rybakina, leaves without adding to her ranking points and heads into the final weeks of the season looking for a confidence boost.

Jovic, meanwhile, will go for her place in the last four against Shnaider, while Rybakina and Kawa contest another of the last-eight matches.