US OPEN

September 5, 2026

Iva Jovic

Press Conference

I. JOVIC/A. Eala

7-5, 3-6, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Moving on. Epic three-hour battle. Your thoughts?

IVA JOVIC: I honestly don't know what to think after that. I think the level was absolutely incredible from both sides. So, you know, we definitely put on a show, and it literally took everything to get through that.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Wondering what you think how being in a night session on Ashe changed the intensity, maybe how the stakes sort of felt in this match, in this moment for you two, both of whom have not had that sort of experience in that setting.

IVA JOVIC: Well, I would say she's had some experience on those types of stages, because with how big her fan base is, she needs to play on those courts or else literally the amount of people won't fit.

But I think that that match, definitely the way it finished, deserved that court. Yeah, as I said, it literally took everything to somehow squeeze my way through that.

Q. To pull one out on Arthur Ashe under the lights, what did it take, and what did you learn about yourself from that one?

IVA JOVIC: Yeah, I said this earlier, it took losing my earrings, falling literally flat-out on the floor, cuts on my knees, mental breakdowns. It took literally everything.

That is exactly what it took, but I think I've learned a lot over kind of this year with match management, and I've lost a couple of tough ones like this in the slams earlier in the year. So I'm happy to kind of get this one under my belt. I feel like I did some things better from the match management perspective.

Q. I know everybody prefers a quick match, 1 and 2, but you're someone who seems like you might appreciate that type of fight and kind of going through that gauntlet as long as you come out on the other side with a win. How much do you feel like you're going to take from this in terms of being able to survive matches like that now you know that you can come through something like that?

IVA JOVIC: Yeah, I mean, for me personally, this means more than a 1 and 2 win, and especially knowing the level that was played. I mean, I was literally looking at the stats right after I finished, because I couldn't believe what just happened.

We were both in the positive with the winners versus unforced errors, so it was just really, really high level. That's gives me a lot of confidence to be able to beat someone who is playing arguably top-5 tennis right now with the summer that she's had.

So it gives me a lot of confidence. I think if I can replicate that, yeah, it's going to be good.

Q. Had you ever experienced anything like that in your career in terms of playing on Ashe and that moment with the crowd, the back-and-forth, the three hours, the kind of crowd going back and forth in both of your favors, such a unique environment? Anything like that, or was this new territory?

IVA JOVIC: Well, I would say it was a little more for her (smiling), so back and forth but more back on my side.

But I love it. I think, looking back, that exhibition was a really great learning experience for me. I'm really glad I played that, because it was pretty much the same atmosphere. So I felt like that was kind of my first time, and this was a little bit my second time, which was nice to have that experience.

But that's what you want. I don't care if they're cheering for me, against me, I don't care who they're cheering for. There's so many people there, it's the biggest stadium in tennis, so I'm just really grateful to have been a part of it.

Q. Alex went over to the other side of the net to give you a hug afterwards, if you can share a bit about that. Also, you beat her the last two times in Roland Garros and Queen's Club. What does the chat room look like after a few days if you guys kind of talk about it afterwards?

IVA JOVIC: I mean, I know, I mean, right now it's crazy, I think, for both of us. But it says a lot about her as a person. I'm going to start crying, but it says a lot about her as a person to be able to do that after that type of match and still come over and hug me and wish me all the best, and even in the locker room, behind closed doors. That just says a lot about her and her character. Yeah, she's incredible.

Q. You go from one marquee match to another. Can you give us your early thoughts on facing Coco in the next round?

IVA JOVIC: Yeah, I mean, this is what you want, you know. Week 2 in the slams, you're playing one of the best players in the world. Obviously she's playing quite well right now.

But last time I played her, it was a little bit of a heartbreaker and I had a lot of chances. Hopefully I can learn from that and replicate. I think if I replicate this level, I'm definitely going to have my chances in that one.

Q. You have played Alex a couple of times this year already, and this time was the closest one. Did you find something different in her game tonight?

IVA JOVIC: I mean, honestly, I thought she played well in all of the encounters that we faced, but she's really, I think she played an outrageous level tonight. She was serving very good. She was showing a lot more versatility with her returns. You know, you can tell that she's been working very hard and has improved a lot. I have, as well.

It was just, it was very close, very even. She's playing, again, like, 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 right now.