The upcoming young star Iva Jovic has been making a name for herself on the professional Tour. The 16-year-old American has entered 11 pro-level tournaments, securing her first Major victory at the US Open and lifting three titles from six finals. Iva is 10-0 after the US Open, winning the W35 title in Berkeley and remaining in California last week. Jovic battled at the W75 Rancho Santa Fe event and went all the way, ousting five opponents for the most notable trophy of her young career. A teenager lost the opening set of the tournament before stepping in and beating Victoria Hu 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in two hours and 25 minutes. Iva claimed 16 points more than her opponent, losing serve four times and erasing the deficit with a rock-solid display on the return. The young gun turned 53% of the return points into seven breaks from 13 opportunities, playing better as the match progressed and making a winning start. Victoria wasted a game point in the first game and defended two in the next one for 1-1.
Iva Jovic, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot
They served well in the next four games before the 22-year-old denied three break chances at 3-3, rattling off five points and remaining on the positive side. Hu held after a deuce in the ninth game and grabbed a break at love at 5-4 to wrap up the opener. Jovic made a fresh start and grabbed a break at love at the beginning of the second set. She missed another break opportunity in the third game and lost serve in the next one, bringing her rival back to 2-2. The 16-year-old broke in the seventh game and squandered a 40-0 lead on serve in the next one, allowing her opponent to lock the result at 4-4. Jovic made another push in the ninth game, delivering a break at love and holding at 30 to take the set 6-4 and force a decider. Iva dominated on the return, earning four breaks and sailing over the top. The youngster faced Madison Sieg in the second round and earned a 6-2, 6-3 triumph in an hour and 19 minutes. Jovic faced no break points, keeping the pressure on the other side.
Iva Jovic, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot
Iva Jovic claimed the W75 Rancho Santa Fe title.
She turned 47% of the return points into four breaks from five opportunities, sealing the deal in no time and preserving energy. Iva settled into a nice rhythm right from the start, delivering breaks in games three and five and holding at 15 at 5-2 to close the opener. She survived a deuce in the fourth game and broke her rival in the next one, moving in front and sealing the deal with another break at 5-3. The 7th seed Gabriela Knutson stood no chance in the quarter-final, with Jovic toppling her 6-1, 6-2 in 64 minutes for a place in the last four. The American dropped only five points behind the first serve, facing two break points and denying them to mount the pressure on the other side. Knutson lost 60% of the points in her games, playing against ten break points and getting broken five times to propel a teenager through. The Czech saved three break points in the first game of the encounter before experiencing a break at 1-1. Iva completely disarmoured her rival, taking 22 of the last 24 points and winning the opening set 6-1 in no time.
Iva Jovic, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot
Jovic denied two break points in the first game of the second set and came from 0-30 at 1-1, keeping her serve intact. The young gun broke in the fourth game for 3-1 and moved over the top with a break at love at 5-2, sailing into the last four. Iva played against the 5th seed Lanlana Tararudee in the semi-final and notched a 6-1, 7-5 victory in an hour and 22 minutes, booking a place in her sixth professional final. Unlike the previous two matches, the young gun had to work hard behind the initial shot. Jovic played against nine break points and saved six, keeping the pressure on the other side. The American stole 57% of the return points and grabbed seven breaks from 11 chances, dominating the opener and performing a comeback in set number two. Lanlana led 5-3 and had two set points on the return in game nine.
Iva Jovic, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot
Jovic saved them, held and broke back at the last moment for 5-5. A teenager saved two more break points in the 11th game and grabbed a crucial break at 6-5 for a place in the final. The 3rd seed, Ena Shibahara, stood between Iva and the title. The 16-year-old ousted the better-ranked opponent 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 16 minutes, lifting her third and most notable professional title. Jovic dropped 44% of the points in her games and gave serve away three times from nine chances presented to her rival. The American produced another stellar performance on the return, creating seven opportunities and seizing six to control the scoreboard. Iva claimed three straight games from 3-3 in the opener and did the same in the second set to move over the top and claim the title.