Teenage trio in the top 20: Three 18-year-olds set to be in top 20 after Iva Jovic's Australian Open heroics set to be rewarded

A teenage trio on the WTA Tour are making a huge impression so far, with their set to be three 18-year-olds inside the top 20: Mirra Andreeva, Victoria Mboko and most recently Iva Jovic after her Australian Open heroics.

The three teenagers have already started the year with blistering form, with each of them with a final to their name. It goes to show the incredible talent that are currently bossing it on the WTA Tour not just now, but if events go to plan in the future with the three touted for great things.

The American is currently going through a stunning purple patch, as she showcases her huge talent on the court. Last year was her big breakout as she shot up the rankings via a first WTA title at the Guadalajara Open. She would finish the year firmly inside the world top 30 and would end up becoming a seed for the Australian Open.

Before this, she was set to start 2026 with a flourish. She saw off the competition in the ASB Classic enroute to a semi-final appearance in Auckland. She would go on to lose against the eventual champion Elina Svitolina, one of the only players in the world in a richer vein of form than her.

She would back this up with a final a week later at the Hobart International, as was a huge favourite to take her second WTA title. However, she was surprised by Elisabetta Cocciaretto in straight sets.

More progress was made up the rankings, with her the 29th seed going into her second Australian Open campaign. In her five previous Grand Slam campaigns, she had never made it past the second round. She did this comfortably as she made lightwork of Katie Volynets and Priscilla Hon in a debut on Rod Laver Arena.

The next win would be her first top-10 victory, coming against two-time Grand Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini. She dropped just one game against Yulia Putintseva in her last-16 clash, which would not only send her into a first major quarter-final but see her set to debut in the world top 20.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka was a step too far, but this will not dent the progress and statement made in this tournament, with her praises getting sung by some of the best players in the sport. In the live rankings she sits as the world number 20 after leaping up seven places. This is 600 points behind her doubles partner and fellow teenage talent Mboko.

While this is new ground for Jovic, Mboko has already been through this process. The Canadian Open triumph launched her firmly into the top 30 in the world, with positive results from that point sending her even further up the tally.

This included the Hong Kong Open title at the end of 2025, and an Adelaide International final where Andreeva proved too strong. She continued this form into the Australian Open as she made it past the third round for the first time. Unfortunately, similar to Jovic Sabalenka was awaiting, and she was unable to dethrone the two-time champion.

She rises up to world number 13 in the live rankings, creeping closer to a top 10 place. For Andreeva, she is widely recognised as a top 10 player despite only being on the tour for a few years and being 18-years-old.

As wrote before, the Russian began the year with the Adelaide International title before looking imperious on court in Melbourne. It looked like she was a firm outside for the title but was blown away by Svitolina in round four. She will remain as the world number seven, with a lot of points on the line as she is set to defend her two WTA 1000 titles in the coming months.

In conclusion, these three talents have all shown the credentials to be firm contenders at the top of the sport, especially Andreeva who has been around the block longer than her fellow comrades. Now, it is about continuing the positive form up the rankings, scooping up titles along the way, in the hunt to be the best tennis players in the world not just in the future, but now.