Jovic moved to tears after beating ‘incredible’ friend Eala in US Open epic

Published On 6 Sep 20266 Sep 2026.

Key points

• The 14th-seed Jovic won five of the last six games for a 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 triumph over 17th-seed Eala after three hours and three minutes.
• That match will be against compatriot Gauff, the 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open champion.
• Two of the top rising stars of women's tennis created their Arthur Ashe Stadium debut a memorable battle that featured 17 service breaks in 33 games.
• A quarterfinalist at this year's Australian Open, Jovic won her first WTA title last year in Guadalajara at age 17.
• Jovic, 18, and Eala, 21, are friends and sometimes doubles partners, knowing each other's skills and style well.

American teen Iva Jovic was moved to tears while talking regarding her off-court friend and on-court opponent Alex Eala, whom she beat in a three-set thriller to enter the round of 16 at the US Open.

Jovic outlasted the fellow young tennis sensation from the Philippines in an epic three-hour showdown on Saturday to book a session with fourth-seeded former champion Coco Gauff.

Meanwhile, the 14th-seed Jovic won five of the last six games for a 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 triumph over 17th-seed Eala after three hours and three minutes.

"That felt like a marathon, and I felt like I lost my sanity five times over to win that match, " Jovic remarked. "But it's really worth it for this feeling."

"That match, definitely the way it finished, deserved that court, " Jovic remarked. "It literally took everything to somehow squeeze my way through that."

When the emerging US tennis star's win was sealed, her Filipina friend went around the court to congratulate her instead of waiting at the net as players usually do at the end of tennis matches.

When Jovic was asked regarding Eala's gesture in her post-match news conference, the American was moved to tears and stated it indicated her friend's character.

"It says a lot about her as a person, " Jovic remarked while wiping away tears. "I'm gonna start crying, but it notes a lot concerning her as a person to be able to do that after that type of match and still come over to hug me and wish me all the best. And even in the locker room behind closed doors. So that just notes a lot concerning her and her character. Yeah, she's incredible."

Jovic, 18, and Eala, 21, are friends and sometimes doubles partners, knowing each other's skills and style well. That supported produce seven service breaks in the first 11 games.

"I'm usually not one that demonstrates that numerous emotions, but this one really meant a lot to me. It's everything to have another match here at the US Open, " Jovic remarked.

"I'm going to be more than happy to just bring this fight and this energy, and whatever happens I can leave with my head high, " Jovic remarked. 'Put on a show'.

Jovic broke four times to win the first set but was broken three times by left-hander Eala to drop the second. "The level was absolutely incredible from both sides, " Jovic remarked.

"We definitely put on a show, and it literally took everything to get through that. Losing my earrings, falling literally flat-out on the floor, cuts on my knees, mental breakdowns, " she remarked.

Eala admitted: I had my chances. I'm happy with the match in general. Of course there is disappointment in losing, but trying to see the positive side. It was a really good match. For context, the level was really high.

"I left everything out there. I fought through the ups and downs. What I know for a fact is that I fought, so I'm happy with that."

Meanwhile, a quarterfinalist at this year's Australian Open, Jovic won her first WTA title last year in Guadalajara at age 17.

She beat Eala at the French Open and Queen's Club in London earlier this season in their prior meetings, but that was before Eala won her first WTA title at Washington.

"She played an outrageous level tonight. She was serving particularly good. She was showing a lot more versatility with her returns, " Jovic remarked of Eala.

"She's playing some of the best tennis in the world right now, so it's no doubt it takes a hell of an effort to beat her."

Taken together, the developments around jovic moved to tears after beating 'incredible' friend Eala in US Open point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.