Iva Jovic battled from a break down in the third set to beat good friend Alexandra Eala in a third-round match that lasted more than three hours on Saturday night and set up a showdown against fellow American Coco Gauff.
The 14th-seeded Jovic won 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 in a primetime match on Arthur Ashe Court, ending the run of 17th-seeded Eala, the rising star from the Philippines who claimed her first WTA Tour event title at the DC Open in Washington last month.
“That felt like a marathon, and I felt like I lost my sanity five times over to win that match, but it’s really worth it for this feeling,” Jovic said in her on-court interview. “I’m usually not one that shows that many emotions, but this one really meant a lot to me, so it’s everything to have another match here at the U.S. Open.”
Jovic, 18, faced a break point while down 4-2 in the decisive third set. She rallied to hold serve and then had a match point while up 5-4. Eala, 21, saved that match point to push the set to 5-5. Jovic was able to convert a match point two games later.
“I just tried to take my time in those moments and feel the energy, feel the crowd, even though they weren’t always rooting for me,” Jovic said. “I love you guys, and you gave me so much, so much energy to just keep pushing and just leave absolutely everything on the court for the win.”
Jovic, who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and the French Open this year, is now one of five American women still remaining at the U.S. Open along with fourth-seeded Gauff, No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro and Taylor Townsend.
“I’m going to be more than happy to just bring this fight and this energy, and whatever happens, then I can leave with my head high,” Jovic said when asked about facing Gauff on Monday. “She’s playing some unbelievable tennis and a really great person, so it’s going to be an amazing match.”
Gauff defeated unseeded Spaniard Cristina Bucsa 6-3, 6-4 earlier in the day to advance to the second week of the U.S. Open for the fifth consecutive year. Despite being only 22 years old, Gauff is seeking her second title at Flushing Meadows and third Grand Slam title in her career, having won the French Open in 2025.
“I feel like I’m definitely used to getting the week twos now, because I feel like I woke up today and I was like, ‘Oh, we’re already in Round 3,'” Gauff said in her on-court interview. “So, I think that’s a good sign, just feeling like I’m not feeling tired.”
Gauff is also into the Round of 16 for the 11th time in the past 13 majors and has yet to drop a set at this year’s U.S. Open.
“Just enjoying the experiences out here,” she said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of pressure here as an American in trying to do well. Everybody wants to win this tournament, but I think for Americans it’s even more special.”
–Field Level Media
