US Open 2026: Iva Jovic makes history after epic battle with Alex Eala
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Jovic becomes the youngest American woman to reach the pre-quarters at three separate majors in the same year
USA’s Iva Jovic etched her name into American tennis history at the US Open — and she did it against a close friend.
The 18-year-old from California needed three hard-fought sets to get past Alex Eala of the Philippines on Saturday night at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, winning 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 in a match that swung one way and then the other for over three hours. The result sends her into the fourth round of the US Open for the first time in her young career.
That alone would be a nice line for her season, but there’s more to it. Jovic is now the youngest American woman to reach the pre-quarterfinals at three separate majors in the same year since Venus Williams in 1998.
She’s been on this run since January, when she made the Australian Open quarter-finals and became the youngest woman to do so since Williams herself. She kept building from there, reaching the third round at the French Open and then the fourth round at Wimbledon.
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Adding a friendship angle to the contest, Saturday’s win took Jovic’s head-to-head lead over Eala to 3-0. She’d already beaten her twice earlier this year, once on the grass at Queen’s Club and once on the clay in Paris.
Coco Gauff awaits in round four for Iva Jovic
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Up next for Jovic is a heavyweight fourth-round test against Coco Gauff; two young Americans meeting on home turf with a lot riding on it. Eala, meanwhile, heads home to regroup after what’s still been a huge year for her, a maiden WTA title at the DC Open and a statement win over six-time major champion Iga Swiatek of Poland at Wimbledon.
The match itself never really settled into a rhythm. Jovic had a match point on Eala’s serve at 4-5, 30-40, but Eala saved it, then fired off an over-110-mph serve to save a second big moment and stay alive.
Jovic responded by holding her own serve to push the set to 6-5, putting the pressure right back on Eala to serve it out. She couldn’t. Jovic closed out the win in front of a packed house.
Who will Iva Jovic play next at the US Open?
Jovic moves on to face fellow American Coco Gauff in the fourth round.
How has Alex Eala’s 2026 season gone so far despite this loss?
It’s still been a breakout year for Eala, highlighted by her first WTA title at the D.C. Open and a win over six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon.
What is Iva Jovic’s best performance at the US Open to date?
Reaching the fourth round in this edition has been Jovic’s best performance at the US Open to date.
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