Iva Jovic beat Alex Eala 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 in a three-hour, three-set, back-and-forth showcase of two of tennis’ emerging young stars inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday night.
“That felt like a marathon, and I felt like I lost my sanity five times over to win that match,” Jovic said. “But it’s really worth it for this feeling. I’m usually not one that shows that many emotions, but this one really meant a lot to me. It’s everything to have another match here at the U.S. Open.”
The 18-year-old American acknowledged the crowd not always being on her side against Eala, a fan favorite from the Philippines, whose fervent following has become one of the biggest storylines in the sport. But she rallied from down 4-2 in the third set and got a hearty ovation after finishing it off and falling to the court.
–