Iva Jovic powered past Francesca Jones 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday to reach the third round of the 2026 US Open.
The 18-year-old US favorite needed just under two hours to dispatch the Brit on Stadium 17 at Flushing Meadows. Jovic controlled the rallies throughout both sets but acknowledged the physical toll of playing three consecutive days to open the tournament.
"Just happy to survive another day," she said afterward.
Still, the grind hasn't slowed her momentum.
Iva Jovic Preps for 3rd-Round US Open Clash with Alex Eala
Jovic now turns to a third-round matchup against Alexandra Eala, a friend and frequent opponent.
She's already beaten the Filipina phenom twice on tour this season, at Roland Garros and at the HSBC Championships. Thursday's result means their first meeting on hard courts comes with a spot in the Round of 16 on the line.
That familiarity could cut both ways. The two have partnered in doubles and built a friendship off the court since late 2025. They even recently hosted an exhibition match where they invited their dads onto the court. But despite their bond, Jovic sounded ready for the challenge.
"The atmosphere is going to be amazing, and she's been playing some great tennis," Jovic said.
Iva Jovic and Alexandra Eala traded shots at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday before pulling their dads onto the court. The friends and rising talents turned the Stars of the Open exhibition into a family affair, handing their fathers racquets for an impromptu doubles rally that drew laughs from the crowd.
Jovic's dad was tasked with the serve while Eala's father lined up to return. When that plan fell apart, Eala stepped in as the returner to keep a short rally alive
Iva Jovic, Alex Eala Ready for 2026 US Open Runs
Before the lighthearted moment, though, both players were soaking in valuable court time. The exhibition gave Jovic and Eala a feel for the court ahead of the 2026 US Open main draw. Jovic jumped out to a 2-0 lead during their singles play and never let up, taking the one-set match 6-3.
"It's a great way to practice against a great opponent," Eala said after the showcase. "Amazing court and it really gets the atmosphere of the match."
The friendly vibes could turn competitive soon enough, though.
The US Open draw has Jovic, the 14th seed, and Eala, seeded 17th, on a possible collision course in the third round. At 18, Jovic is the youngest US seed in the women's field.
Eala, meanwhile, carries the Philippines's highest-ever Grand Slam seeding. When the 2026 US Open main draw begins Sunday, both will be looking to prove their Arthur Ashe preview was more than just a warmup.
Marie Bouzkova outlasted Iva Jovic in back-to-back tiebreaks on Tuesday, holding off the US star 7-6 (0), 7-6 (5) in the third round of the 2026 Cincinnati Open. The win books her a Round of 16 date with No. 4 seed Coco Gauff.
Getting there took nearly two-and-a-half hours of grinding baseline exchanges.
Marie Bouzkova Wears Down Iva Jovic
Bouzkova fell behind 5-3 in the opening set before steadying her serve. From there, she pushed the frame to a tiebreak and shut out the 13th seeded Jovic 7-0.
The second set brought a familiar swing, only in reverse. Jovic broke to serve for it at 5-4, then immediately handed the game back. Bouzkova jumped ahead in the second tiebreak. She took home the opening point and never trailed after that. Between them, the pair converted five breaks apiece.
A Coco Gauff Rematch Takes the 2026 Cincinnati Open Court
Now comes another crack at Gauff, who Bouzkova leads 2-1 head-to-head.
Their last meeting came here in 2022, when a rolled ankle forced Gauff to retire while down 7-5, 1-0. Tuesday also delivered Bouzkova her 21st career Top 20 win, and her first in six 2026 WTA Tour appearances.
Iva Jovic defeated Jacqueline Cristian 7-6(1), 6-0 on Monday at Wimbledon 2026 to reach the second round at the All England Club. With the win, the US No. 16 seed now has a main draw victory at all four WTA Grand Slams.
However, her most-recent first-round result didn't come easy.
Iva Jovic Dominates 2nd Set After Tight Wimbledon Tiebreak
Neither player managed a break in the opening set. But Iva Jovic seized control in the tiebreak, conceding just one point to finally win the frame. From there, the 18-year-old pulled away completely. She blanked Cristian 6-0 in the second set to close out the match in under 90 minutes.
"I had nerves," Jovic said after the Wimbledon win. "I'm lucky I have a lot of family and friends here, so that helps distract you."
The result caps a sharp rise for the Californian.
Just 12 months ago, she had to battle through three qualifying rounds to reach the main draw. Now she's a seeded player in the 128-player field.
"It's so much nicer when you're in the main draw," Jovic said. "I actually haven't had to play [qualifiers] in a tournament for a long time. I've forgotten that feeling a little bit. Hopefully I don't have to do it much more again."
Jovic will next face German Tatjana Maria on Wednesday at the All England Club.
US tennis star Iva Jovic advanced to the quarterfinals of the HSBC Championships 2026 with Wednesday's 6-2, 6-2 win over Alexandra Eala.
The world No. 19 needed just 77 minutes to close out the Queen's Club match, marking her first time reaching the WTA 500 tournament's final eight.
Jovic's Grass-Court Dominance Continues at Queen's Club
Iva Jovic's baseline depth kept Alexandra Eala on the defensive from the opening game.
The 21-year-old Filipino star entered the grass-court draw with momentum after capturing her first WTA 125 title in Birmingham last week. However, Jovic broke down her rhythm early, winning 71% of her second-serve return points to pull away with the win.
The 18-year-old WTA standout now holds a 10-1 career record on grass across all competitive levels.
Inside Tennis Stars Jovic and Eala's WTA Tour Friendship
The matchup came with an added layer, as Jovic and Eala maintain a close friendship off the court and have even teamed up as doubles partners in the past.
Their Queen's Club contest marked just their second singles meeting, after last month's first-round match at Roland Garros — which Jovic also won in straight sets.
"It's more fun playing doubles with her than being on the other side of the net," Jovic said of Eala after the win.
"Unfortunately we have to play in the early rounds but hopefully we play some finals soon enough. She's a great friend of mine and I'm very grateful for her."
Jovic now turns her attention to Friday's quarterfinal matchup against fellow US player Amanda Anisimova. Eala, meanwhile, turns her focus to Wimbledon as she chases a seeded spot in the annual Grand Slam's draw.
Iva Jovic advanced to the third round of the 2026 French Open on Thursday, defeating Emma Navarro 6-0, 6-3 on the clay courts of Roland Garros.
The 18-year-old US star controlled the match from the opening game, holding serve and applying consistent pressure from the baseline. Navarro, who defeated Jovic at the Strasbourg Open last week, was unable to find her footing against the aggressive returning game of her younger opponent.
With this latest win, Jovic shifted the dynamic of the duo's budding rivalry.
Navarro excelled on her second serve, winning 69% of those points. She also generated 12 break-point opportunities, converting five of them.
"I think I played well in the tight moments in the games," Jovic said post-match. "Obviously the scoreline is favoring me well, but it wasn't necessarily realistic to how all the games were played out. I think I just played the right way in the bigger points."
While the 25-year-old ace managed to fire four aces, Navarro struggled to find consistency and won just two of her service games against Jovic's deep returns.
Iva Jovic Sets Up 2026 French Open Clash with Naomi Osaka
This decisive victory sends Jovic into a highly anticipated third-round blockbuster against fan favorite Naomi Osaka.
Earlier in the day, the world No 16 Osaka fought past Croatia’s Donna Vekic with a 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 victory.
Both Jovic and Osaka are now aiming to reach a career-first French Open Round of 16. Fans can expect an tactical power battle when the athletes meet on Saturday, May 30th.
US teenager Iva Jovic launched her 2026 French Open campaign with Tuesday's straight-sets win over Alexandra Eala.
The 17th seed defeated her close friend and occasional doubles partner 6-4, 6-2, as the 18-year-old locked in an immediate rematch with fellow US star Emma Navarro at Roland Garros.
Iva Jovic Defeats Alexandra Eala in 'Tough' First Round
Jovic established control early in the match with aggressive baseline play, firing 34 winners compared to just 15 from Eala.
Jovic built a quick 5-1 lead in the opening set, but Eala fought back. The Filipina star capitalized on three double faults to break twice and close the gap to 5-4, before Jovic eventually secured the first set.
In the second set, both players traded early breaks before Jovic took charge. She claimed the final four games of the match to wrap up the win in an hour and 40 minutes.
"Alex is a great player," Jovic said postmatch. "One of the, I think, toughest first rounds, especially as a seed, that I could have gotten. But I hung tough when I needed to, and happy to get it done in straights."
Jovic now moves to a 6-1 lifetime record in Grand Slam openers.
2026 French Open Sets All-U.S. Jovic vs Navarro Clash
This latest victory sets up a highly anticipated second-round showdown between Jovic and countrywoman Navarro. Just last week, Navarro defeated Jovic in a tight three-set match in route to winning the WTA 500 title in Strasbourg.
Navarro advanced to the second round of the French Open earlier on Tuesday by defeating Janice Tjen in straight sets.
World No. 3 Coco Gauff survived a match point on Monday to defeat 17-year-old US Iva Jovic, advancing to the Italian Open quarterfinals for the third consecutive year. The 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 comeback victory additionally marks Gauff’s fourth career quarterfinal appearance in Rome, and her fifth Top 20 win this season.
The Gauff vs. Jovic clash was a test of resilience where neither player found a rhythm on serve, resulting in 14 total breaks. Jovic dominated early, taking the first set before serving for the match at 5-4 in the second. Gauff responded by saving a match point and breaking back immediately.
That shift sparked a run where Gauff won three straight games to force a decider. The US Open champ exploited Jovic’s soft service game in the final set, after the teenager committed 10 double faults and won just 33% of her second-serve points. Those key mistakes allowed Gauff to take control.
Gauff relied on her experience to net the win despite difficult conditions.
"The conditions today weren’t easy," Gauff said postmatch. "We had wind, we had airplanes. We had phones ringing. Everything was going on."
The 21-year-old now turns to the final eight as she chases her first Rome Open title.
Where to Watch Coco Gauff at the Italian Open 2026
The Italian Open runs through May 17th, live on the Tennis Channel.
The 2026 Australian Open semifinals are set, after a round of quarterfinals teeming with upsets sent three top seeds packing.
World No. 3 Coco Gauff opened the floodgates early Tuesday morning, falling to No. 12 Elina Svitolina 6-1, 6-2, as the 31-year-old Ukrainian advanced to her first-ever Australian Open semifinal.
Gauff wasn't the round's only victim, however, as No. 2 Iga Świątek saw her career slam dreams deferred at the hands of No. 5 Elena Rybakina in a 7-5, 6-1 Tuesday evening result.
The Melbourne Grand Slam's US contingent ultimately dwindled from four quarterfinalists down to one on Tuesday night, when No. 6 Jessica Pegula ousted fellow US star No. 4 Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6(1) to reach her first-ever Australian Open semifinal.
"It's awesome," the 31-year-old said after the win. "I feel like I play really good tennis here…. I've been waiting for the time when I can break through."
Only No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka avoided falling to a lower seed, defeating US teenager No. 27 Iva Jović in tidy fashion 6-3, 6-0 on Monday.
How to watch the 2026 Australian Open semifinals
The 2026 Australian Open semis start at 3:30 AM ET on Thursday, with No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka facing No. 12 Elina Svitolina before No. 6 Jessica Pegula takes on No. 5 Elena Rybakina in the following match.
Both semifinals will air live on ESPN.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her 2026 Australian Open title campaign early Tuesday, defeating 18-year-old US tennis star Iva Jović 6-2, 6-3.
The victory advances the 27-year-old to the Grand Slam's semifinals. There she remains the favorite after several top seeds — including No. 3 Coco Gauff and defending champion Madison Keys — fell in earlier rounds.
In the quarterfinal match, Sabalenka used her trademark power to overwhelm her teenage opponent. The Belarusian broke started strong and maintained a high level of aggression throughout. Playing in her first career Grand Slam quarterfinal, Jović struggled to find an answer for the veteran's depth and velocity.
"The second set, I felt like I had to step in and put even more pressure on her," Sabalenka said postmatch. "Because I can see that she's young, she's hungry, and I could tell during the match that no matter the score, she's still going to be there trying."
"These teenagers have tested me in the last couple of rounds — incredible player," she continued, singing Jović's praises. "It was a tough match. Don't look at the score. She played incredible tennis and she pushed me to a one-step better level. It was a battle."
Sabalenka now prepares for a semifinal matchup against Ukraine’s No. 12 Elina Svitolina. Svitolina advanced earlier on Tuesday after defeating Coco Gauff in straight sets. Sabalenka holds a 5-1 head-to-head advantage over Svitolina, and has yes to drop a set this tournament.
With Madison Keys out of the draw, Sabalenka remains the only former Australian Open champion remaining in the women's singles bracket.
How to watch Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open semifinals
The Australian Open semifinals kick off tomorrow, as Sabalenka takes on Svitolina live on ESPN (timing TBD).