Thirty-three games, three hours, no let-up
Iva Jovic came through in the small hours of Sunday morning. The 14th-seeded American beat the Philippines’ Alexandra Eala 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 at Flushing Meadows, a match that ran past the three-hour mark.
One number tells the story. Thirty-three games. Serve meant almost nothing across the three sets, with breaks going both ways and neither player ever settling into a rhythm on her own delivery.
The two know each other well off the court, which added an edge rather than softening one. Nobody watching came away calling it anything other than one of the hardest-fought matches of the tournament to date.
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Eighteen years old, and already a habit
This is Jovic’s third fourth-round appearance of the season. It is also as deep as she has ever gone at a Grand Slam.
Reaching the last 16 of a major three times in a single year at 18 is not luck. Neither is grinding out a three-hour night match, which says more about the work behind the scenes than any highlight reel would.
The ceiling is still there, though. She has never gone past this round. Monday decides whether that changes.
Gauff next, and no reprieve
Jovic gets Coco Gauff for a place in the quarter-finals. Fourth seed. Former champion here. Compatriot.
Gauff arrived without fuss, seeing off Carolina Bucsa 6-3, 6-4. Two Americans, barely a generation apart, one spot in the last eight. New York got the draw it wanted.
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