Jovic puts friendship with Eala on hold to win three-hour battle at US Open

New York, 2023 - Iva Jovic, a 18-year-old American tennis player, and Alexandra Eala, a 21-year-old Filipino player, set aside their friendship for three hours at the U.S. Open on Saturday. Both were close friends who had previously played together during Fan Week in New York, pairing up with their fathers for a light-hearted doubles match. However, their competitive spirit took over once the match began at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Jovic gained an early lead in the opening set but Eala quickly rallied to level the score in the second set. The final set was a rollercoaster, with Jovic trailing 4-2 before mounting a comeback to secure her victory. This win extended Jovic's head-to-head record against Eala to a remarkable 3-0 across all three surfaces. Jovic expressed her emotions on court, saying, "That felt like a marathon. I felt like I lost my sanity five times over to win that match. But it’s really worth it for this feeling."

Jovic's victory was a highlight on a challenging day for American tennis, with several home players, including Taylor Fritz, Madison Keys, and Amanda Anisimova, being eliminated. Ranked as high as 14th in the world, Jovic had never progressed beyond the second round in her previous two U.S. Open appearances. However, she has now reached the last 16 at three Grand Slams this season, setting up an all-American fourth-round clash with fourth seed Coco Gauff, who had already advanced on Saturday by defeating Spain’s Cristina Bucsa.