NEW YORK – In an impressive achievement, 16-year-old Iva Jovic from California has made history by becoming the youngest American to win a main draw match in the women’s singles at the US Open since 2000. On a thrilling Monday, she defeated Polish player Magda Linette, a former semifinalist at the Australian Open, with a score of 6-4, 6-3.
“I am surprised, but not surprised,” Jovic said regarding her victory over a player who has been ranked among the top 20. “I had a plan for what I wanted to do before we started, and there wasn’t much need for wild adjustments because it went well. So, I stuck to it.”
Jovic is part of a new generation of talented players and now occupies a unique position. Four years ago, Katrina Scott was also 16 when she won a match at the US Open, and last year, Russia’s Mirra Andreeva achieved the same feat. However, Jovic is not solely focused on the senior tournament; she also plans to participate in the junior event later in the competition.
Another indicator of her youth is that she is still in school, taking online courses, which she describes as “practical and… very flexible.” Jovic grew up participating in various sports such as soccer, gymnastics, and swimming, but tennis quickly became her major passion. She began learning the sport on the courts atop the apartment complex where she lived in Torrance, California, alongside her older sister.
“I want to be the best I can be,” Jovic stated. “I want to get better every day, to be honest. Just keep working. I’m on the right track, but there’s still much more to achieve.”
Jovic earned a wildcard entry to the main draw of this year’s final Grand Slam tournament by winning the USTA (United States Tennis Association) girls’ 18-and-under national championship. Along with Tyra Grant, she also won the doubles title, which secured them a spot in the women’s doubles event at Flushing Meadows. USTA granted Jovic and another American teenager, Kaylan Bigun, a spot in the mixed doubles event.
Jovic and Grant previously won junior doubles titles at the Australian Open in January and Wimbledon in July, and they were runners-up at the French Open in June. Jovic mentioned that her favorite players include 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic, who also has Serbian roots, as well as Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic from Tokyo.
“Djokovic, I mean, do I need to say more? We all know how amazing he is,” Jovic said with a smile. “And then Belinda, she takes the ball so early, and her footwork creates so many angles that it makes her opponents feel trapped. That’s what I would like to try to do.”
Jovic dreams of having the opportunity to have a conversation with Djokovic, but their only interaction so far has been when she asked him for a photo together. “I have a selfie,” she said with a smile. “It doesn’t look that good, but it’s there.”