Iva Jovic is an American professional tennis player known for becoming the youngest American to win a WTA title since Coco Gauff . She gained public attention for her breakthrough quarterfinal run at the 2026 Australian Open and her rapid climb into the WTA Top 20 .
Quick Facts
Full Name: Iva Jovic
Age: 18 (born December 6, 2007)
Nationality: American
Occupation: Professional Tennis Player
Known For: Winning the 2025 Guadalajara Open; 2026 Australian Open quarterfinalist; youngest American to win a Grand Slam match at the 2024 US Open since 2000
Marital Status: Not Public
Children: None
Early Life and Background
Born in Torrance, California, to Serbian father Bojan and Croatian mother Jelena, Jovic began playing tennis at age five . Her parents emigrated to the United States from the Balkans seeking better opportunities. She has an older sister, Mia, who played tennis at UCLA. Jovic did not decide to pursue tennis seriously until the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when team sports were shut down .
Career and Achievements
Jovic turned professional in 2024 after a standout junior career that included two junior Grand Slam doubles titles at the 2024 Australian Open and Wimbledon . She made her Grand Slam singles debut at the 2024 US Open as a wildcard entry, defeating Magda Linette to become the youngest American to win a women’s main draw match at the US Open since 2000 .
In September 2025, at just 17 years old, Jovic won her first WTA title at the Guadalajara Open, defeating Emiliana Arango in the final . She became the youngest American to win a tour-level title since Coco Gauff in 2021 .
At the 2026 Australian Open, Jovic reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, recording her first Top 10 win by defeating Jasmine Paolini without dropping a set . She achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 17 on March 16, 2026 .
Why She is in the News
As of April 2026, Jovic has reached the semi-final of the Credit One Charleston Open, where she will face top seed and defending champion Jessica Pegula . It marks her third WTA Tour semi-final of the season, following a runner-up finish in Hobart in January .
What She Says About Facing Pegula
Ahead of their Charleston semi-final, Jovic explained why Pegula is so difficult to beat. She described Pegula as “as good as it gets” and noted that Pegula “doesn’t give away a lot” and places her serve very well .
“You really have to beat her,” Jovic said. “She’s not going to have one of those days where, ‘Oh, I’m not playing so well.’ She showed this week that even if she goes down, or if you’re having a hot start, she’s going to come back and make you really work for it” .
Pegula previously defeated Jovic in straight sets at the Dubai Tennis Championships in February 2026, calling Jovic her “mini-me” for their similar playing styles .
Conclusion
Iva Jovic is one of the fastest-rising young players in women’s tennis. With a WTA title already secured and a Top 20 ranking at just 18 years old, she represents the next generation of American tennis talent and is proving she can compete with the sport’s elite.
