Iva Jovic edged out the rising Filipino tennis star Alex Eala in a three‑hour epic.
Published On 6 Sep 2026
American teenager Iva Jovic was reduced to tears as she reflected on her off‑court friendship and on‑court rivalry with Alex Eala, whom she defeated in a three‑set thriller to advance to the US Open round of 16.
Jovic outlasted the young Filipino sensation in an epic three‑hour showdown on Saturday, setting up a clash with fourth‑seeded former champion Coco Gauff.
The 14th‑seeded Jovic claimed five of the last six games to secure a 7‑5, 3‑6, 7‑5 victory over 17th‑seed Eala after three hours and three minutes.
“It felt like a marathon, and I felt like I lost my sanity five times over to win that match,” Jovic said. “But it’s really worth it for this feeling.”
Two of women’s tennis’s most promising rising stars turned their Arthur Ashe Stadium debut into a memorable duel, featuring 17 service breaks across 33 games.
“The match, and the way it ended, definitely deserved that court,” Jovic said.
“It literally took everything to somehow squeeze my way through that.”
When the American’s victory was sealed, her Filipino friend bypassed the traditional post‑match net handshake and walked around the court to congratulate her.
When asked about Eala’s gesture at the post‑match press conference, Jovic was moved to tears, noting that it reflected her friend’s character.
“It says a lot about her as a person,” Jovic said, wiping away tears. “I’m going to start crying, but it says a lot about her to be able to do that after that kind of match and still come over to hug me and wish me all the best. And even in the locker room behind closed doors … so that just says a lot about her and her character. Yeah, she’s incredible.”
Jovic, 18, and Eala, 21, are friends and occasional doubles partners, intimately familiar with each other’s games. That familiarity produced seven service breaks in the first 11 games.
“I’m not usually one to show that many emotions, but this one really meant a lot to me. It’s everything to have another match here at the US Open,” Jovic said.
That encounter will pit Jovic against compatriot Gauff, the 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open champion.
“I’m going to be more than happy to bring this fight and this energy, and whatever happens I can leave with my head high,” Jovic said.
‘Put on a show’
Jovic broke serve four times to capture the opening set but was broken three times by left‑hander Eala, surrendering the second.
“The level was absolutely incredible from both sides,” Jovic said.
“We definitely put on a show, and it literally took everything to get through that … losing my earrings, falling flat‑out on the floor, cuts on my knees, mental breakdowns,” she said.
Eala admitted: “I had my chances. I’m happy with the match overall. Of course there is disappointment in losing, but I’m trying to see the positive side. It was a really good match. The level was really high.
“I left everything out there. I fought through the ups and downs … What I know for a fact is that I fought, so I’m happy with that.”
A quarterfinalist at this year’s Australian Open, Jovic captured her first WTA title last year in Guadalajara at age 17.
She had beaten Eala at the French Open and Queen’s Club in London earlier this season, but that was before Eala claimed her first WTA title in Washington.
“She played an outrageous level tonight. She was serving very well. She was showing a lot more versatility with her returns,” Jovic said of Eala.
“She’s playing some of the best tennis in the world right now, so it’s no doubt it takes a tremendous effort to beat her.”
