Iva Jovic fights back tears after Alex Eala turns heartbreak into a touching moment

Alexandra Eala may have walked out of Arthur Ashe Stadium as her US Open campaign ended, but the Filipina left behind a moment that said far more about her than the result ever could.

After a bruising three-set battle against close friend Iva Jovic, Eala went around the net and embraced the American. It was a poignant end to a contest in which friendship was temporarily put on hold for three hours of fierce competition.

Jovic, who eventually won 7-5, 3-6, 7-5she was visibly emotional when asked about the gesture at her post-match press conference.

“It says a lot about her as a person. I’m going to cry. But it says a lot about her character that she could do it after a game like that and still come to hug me and wish me well,” Jovic said.

“She even did the same thing in the dressing room behind closed doors. That just says a lot about her and her character. Yeah, she’s incredible,” added Jovic.

It was a fitting end to an extraordinary match between two players whose relationship extends far beyond the tennis court.

FRIENDSHIP TESTED REPEATEDLY IN COURT

Eala and Jovic have developed a close friendship on tour despite being fierce competitors. Their meeting at the US Open was their third meeting in 2026, with Jovic winning all three.

The American defeated Eala in the second round at Queen’s Club and again in the first round of Roland Garros. Their meeting at the US Open therefore brought an extra layer of intrigue, especially as the two also shared the court during US Open Fan Week in a light-hearted exhibition that showcased their friendship.

Iva Jovic on Alex Eal going to her side of the net to hug her after her US Open match: “That says a lot about her and her character. Yeah, she’s incredible.”

“Alex walked over to the other side of the net to give you a hug afterwards. If you could share o pic.twitter.com/31ih4j6VFw— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 6, 2026

However, the last meeting was anything but happy.

Eala, the No. 17 seed, battled back after losing the opening set to level the match by winning the second 6-3. She then appeared to have momentum as she went 4-2, 30-0 in the deciding set. However, Jovic refused to back down, winning five of his last six games to complete a remarkable comeback.

The match saw an extraordinary 17 breaks of serve as Jovic hit 44 winners and Eal 34 in a match that lasted around three hours.

For Eala, the defeat marked the end of an important campaign at the US Open. She got off to a flying start with a 6-1, 6-2 win over American qualifier Mary Stoiana before beating Oleksandra Oliynyk 6-1, 6-4 in the second round. The latest victory sent her to the third round of the US Open for the first time.

Meanwhile, Jovic advanced to her first round of 16 at the US Open and her third Grand Slam fourth round of the season. At just 18, she also became the youngest American to reach three Grand Slam quarterfinals in a single season since Venus Williams in 1998.

Still, among all the records and rivalries, perhaps the image of Ealy walking Jovic’s side of the net will last the longest.

The scoreboard separated them for one night. The hug made it clear no.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

06 Sep 2026 19:00 IST