Jovic’s Balkan connection runs deep as the daughter of a Serbian father and Croatian mother, and, as he has done before, Djokovic is generously giving back to the next generation.

Through to the third round in Paris for the first time following straight-sets victories over good friend Alex Eala and former world No.8 Emma Navarro, the 17th seed was coy on what the Serbian great’s tactical advice entailed after a chance encounter on site last week.

She was more forthcoming though when asked to narrow down the single attribute of Djokovic’s that she would most like to channel on her own tennis journey.

“I think it would be the growth mindset that he's had,” Jovic said. “He's a completely different player than when he was at the start of his career, technically, tactically, everything.

“So to be able to improve that much when you're playing every week is incredible. Not being stubborn in your ways, making changes, making improvements, is very important.

“So I hope I can keep that kind of open-minded mentality and be able to make changes, even though you're competing all the time.”

Those changes are happening fast since the teenager’s unexpected breakthrough as a WTA 500 champion in Guadalajara, Mexico last September.

When Jovic arrived in Auckland to open her season in January, she was already the youngest in the top 100 at world No.35.

When she departed Melbourne Park less than a month later, she’d reached the Auckland semifinals, Hobart final and her first major quarterfinal to crack the top 20.

“I think I'm playing with better shape. My shots, both forehand and backhand, have more weight on them, so just the overall ball quality is higher, and they're not able to attack me as easily,” she said of her improvements this year.

“I think my defence has gotten better, and the serve is a work in progress, but I think that's making strides as well. So those couple of things.”

The youngest player since Venus Williams in 1998 to reach the last eight at the Australian Open without dropping a set, Jovic has fast grown used to hearing those age-defying statistics.

“I think my entire team is pretty good with not focusing on those things and just thinking about the tennis and what I need to improve and what I need to get better,” she said.

“Ultimately, I know I'm going to be a really good player if I can keep working and improving on the things I need to work on, right, so that's the most important. Then whatever statistic I reach or don't reach, it's just going to be an end result of that.”

Four-time major winner Naomi Osaka stands between Jovic and back-to-back Grand Slam fourth rounds. It will be the pair’s first encounter.

She’s on close enough terms to hit up her part-time mentor for a few pre-match tactical tips should they be required.

While mature and composed beyond her years, there’d still be an element of awe should the teenager from Torrance, California run into her idol again around these parts.

“Obviously, I think it's starstruck. Everything is starstruck here,” she said. “It's starstruck to be here, right? Maybe one day I'll wake up and it will all sink in.”