Iva Jovic has quickly emerged as one of the brightest young stars in American tennis, and her breakthrough 2026 season has taken her all the way to a career-high World No. 14 ranking. At just 18 years old, the Torrance, California native has already established herself as a serious Grand Slam contender, combining aggressive baseline tennis with an impressive ability to handle pressure.
Jovic’s rise has been particularly evident at the majors this year. She reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, becoming the youngest American woman to reach that stage in Melbourne since Venus Williams in 1998. She followed that with a third-round appearance at the French Open and a run to the fourth round at Wimbledon.
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Now, Jovic is looking to make another statement at her home Grand Slam. The No. 14 seed will face close friend Alexandra Eala in the third round of the 2026 US Open on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday night. Jovic has already beaten Eala twice this year, at the French Open and Queen’s, but this will be their first meeting on hard courts.
A Family Story Behind Jovic’s Rise
Much of Jovic’s journey has been shaped by the sacrifices made by her parents, Bojan and Jelena Jovic. Her father is originally from Leskovac, Serbia, while her mother was born in Split, Croatia. Jelena experienced significant hardship during the turmoil in the Balkans before eventually starting a new life in the United States with Bojan.
The couple moved to America after winning the U.S. Green Card Lottery. Their pharmacy degrees were not initially recognized in the country, forcing both to work as supermarket cashiers while studying to retake their professional board examinations. They eventually became licensed pharmacists.
Supporting Iva’s tennis journey also required significant sacrifices. Her father would work long shifts to help cover the costs associated with tournaments, travel and coaching. Jovic has repeatedly acknowledged how much her parents gave up to help her pursue a professional tennis career.
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Jovic also grew up alongside her older sister, Mia, who plays collegiate tennis for UCLA. The sisters spent summers visiting family in Serbia and regularly competed against each other, with Jovic crediting those battles with helping sharpen her competitive instincts.
The Coaches Behind Iva Jovic’s Breakthrough
Jovic’s development has also been closely tied to the USTA Player Development system. Thomas Gutteridge has worked with her since she was 14 and remains her primary touring coach.
Another important influence has been Southern California coach Peter Smith, who worked with Jovic during her junior years. Smith quickly recognized her determination to turn professional and played an important role in developing her game.
That combination of long-term coaching and USTA support has helped Jovic transition from an elite junior into a player capable of making deep runs at the biggest tournaments.
Another important association Jovic has is with Novak Djokovic, whom she considers a mentor. She has frequently spoken about the advice Djokovic has given her, particularly regarding tactics, as well as the running joke she and her coach, Gutteridge, share during practice.
“He gives me some very specific takes about some tactics I can play, some different versatility I can add into my game, so I’ve been trying to do it. Me and my coach have a joke, where he says, ‘If you don’t want to listen to me, listen to Novak at least!’ because they’re saying the same thing, but it’s a little different when it comes from Novak.”
Iva Jovic’s Ranking and What Comes Next
Jovic reached a career-high World No. 14 on August 24, 2026, a remarkable milestone for a player who is still only 18.
Her next challenge is perhaps her most intriguing of the US Open so far. With a place in the fourth round on the line, Jovic will meet Alexandra Eala under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Having already won their two previous meetings, she will enter with the psychological advantage, but Eala’s aggressive hard-court game could provide an entirely different test.
For Jovic, the match represents another opportunity to show that her rapid rise is about much more than potential – she is already becoming a force on the biggest stages.
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