Coco Gauff and Iva Jovic have both booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
Gauff impressively defeated Karolina Muchova in three sets, while Jovic continued her perfect record by dispatching Yulia Puntinseva in straight sets.
Jovic has set up a match with world number one Aryna Sabalenka, while Gauff will play the winner of Elina Svitolina and Mirra Andreeva.
Gauff has been inspiring to younger stars, including Alexandra Eala, and she’s explained what her relationship with Jovic is like.
Coco Gauff says she’s reached out to Iva Jovic while on tour
Gauff arrived on the tennis scene at the age of 15, so she is always wary of how other teenage stars are doing on the WTA Tour.
Speaking about whether she feels like an elder stateswoman now, she replied:”She’s the age of my little brother. I do feel older than them. That’s for sure.
“I don’t feel the exact same, but I don’t feel as old as people make it seem. I have talked to Iva a couple of times. I have never talked to her about advice or anything. I feel like she has such a good head on her shoulders. I don’t think she needs that.”
Who has impressed you the most?
Gauff said she makes an effort to speak to younger players because of bad experiences she had when she joined the tour.
“Yeah, I always make a conscious effort, even though I didn’t know her that well, but in Cincinnati I tried to talk to her.
“Just a conscious effort of talking to the younger players, because I remember when I was younger, some players just — I wouldn’t say mean, but it was stand-offish, and it was a different world than I was used to in juniors.
“So I think that was a hard transition of having friends in juniors, and coming on pro and no one talking to you.
“I do make the conscious effort, even if I don’t know them, just saying hi or saying good luck, and then you start to talk and then you become friends, and it’s cool.”
Gauff and Jovic are yet to play each other, but that could come as soon as the Australian Open semi-finals if they both win their matches.
Coco Gauff and Iva Jovic have emulated Serena and Venus Williams at the Australian Open
Gauff and Jovic will be the first of three Americans in the Australian Open quarter-finals, following Madison Keys’ match with Jessica Pegula.
The young pair have become the first Americans to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open before turning 22 since Venus Williams and Serena Williams.
How long will it take for Coco Gauff to complete the career Grand Slam?
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The sister pair managed the feat at Roland Garros in 2002 and that tournament could provide a good omen for either Gauff or Jovic.
Both Williams sisters reached the final of the Grand Slam in that year, with Serena beating her sister to lift the trophy.
Gauff and Jovic can’t both reach the final, with a potential semi-final meeting, but they will each be hoping they can further emulate the Williams sisters.
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