American teenager Iva Jovic outlasted Alexandra Eala of the Philippines in a grueling three-hour, three-minute match at the US Open on September 5, winning 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 to reach the fourth round at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York [1, 2, 3]. The 18-year-old 14th seed rallied to win five of the final six games to close out the intense battle against 21-year-old 17th-seeded Eala [2, 4, 5].
The match featured 17 service breaks over 33 games, including seven breaks in the first 11 games as the two close friends and occasional doubles partners, who know each other's games well, fought fiercely [2, 4, 5]. Jovic described the final set as a rollercoaster of momentum, with Eala breaking first before Jovic broke back and sealed victory after Eala made a forehand error in the last game [2, 4, 6].
"That felt like a marathon and I felt like I lost my sanity five times over to win that match," Jovic said after the victory. "But it’s really worth it for this feeling. I’m usually not one that shows that many emotions but this one really meant a lot to me. It’s everything to have another match here at the US Open" [2].
Jovic recounted the physical and emotional toll, mentioning losing an earring, falling and scraping her knee, and nearly breaking down mentally during the match’s intensity [6, 7]. Despite the fierce competition, Jovic praised Eala's sportsmanship, noting she crossed the net to hug her and offered congratulations both publicly and in the locker room. "That says a lot about her and her character. Yeah, she’s incredible," Jovic said [5].
This win marked Jovic's first time advancing beyond the second round at the US Open after previously reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open earlier this year and winning her first WTA title last year in Guadalajara at age 17 [1, 2, 3, 4].
Jovic will face fellow American Coco Gauff, the tournament's fourth seed, in the fourth round. Gauff advanced by defeating Spain’s Cristina Bucsa earlier on September 5 [1, 2, 3].
