‘I lost my sanity five times’: Jovic survives 17-break marathon to knock out Eala, book Gauff clash at US Open

New York, September 6 — In an intense three-hour match at the US Open, American teen Iva Jovic, the 14th seed, clinched a 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Philippines star Alexandra Eala, the 17th seed, to advance to the fourth round. The match lasted 3 hours and 3 minutes and featured 17 service breaks in 33 games. Jovic, 18, said, "That felt like a marathon and I felt like I lost my sanity five times over to win that match."

The players, friends and doubles partners, battled it out in a match that showcased their skills and style. Jovic broke Eala four times to win the first set, but Eala broke Jovic three times to lose the second. In the third set, Eala broke Jovic in the first game, but Jovic broke back to tie the set, winning the last game with a forehand winner to reach match point.

Jovic, a quarter-finalist at the Australian Open and a WTA title winner last year, will face compatriot Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open champion, next. "I’m going to be more than happy to just bring this fight and this energy and whatever happens I can leave with my head high," Jovic said.