Iva Jovic continued her impressive run in the HSBC Championships, overcoming Alexandra Eala for the second time in three weeks. Jovic, the sixth seed, dominated the match, winning 6-2, 6-2 in just 76 minutes. This victory marks her fifth quarterfinal appearance in 2026 and her first at the professional level on grass.
Match Highlights
Jovic’s performance was significantly stronger than their previous encounter at Roland Garros, where she won 6-4, 6-2. Eala entered the match on a six-match winning streak, having recently secured the Birmingham WTA 125 title. However, she struggled against Jovic’s aggressive style, accumulating 12 winners paired with 19 unforced errors. In contrast, Jovic excelled by hitting 26 winners and only committing nine unforced errors.
Next Round and Matchup
In the quarterfinals, Jovic will face second seed Amanda Anisimova for the first time. This matchup promises to be a challenge as Anisimova was last year’s finalist in this tournament.
Withdrawal and Changes in the Draw
Earlier in the tournament, No. 4 seed Belinda Bencic withdrew due to a right ankle injury. Kamilla Rakhimova, who entered as a lucky loser, will now compete against wild card Harriet Dart in the second round.
A Friendship on Hold
Despite the competitive nature of their matches, Jovic reiterated her fondness for Eala. Both athletes have developed a friendship since meeting at the 2022 US Open, where Eala made history as the first Filipina junior Grand Slam champion. Jovic fondly recalled their first encounter, stating, “We got killed,” referring to their doubles match in which they lost 6-2, 6-2.
- Match Duration: 76 minutes
- Winners: Jovic – 26, Eala – 12
- Unforced Errors: Jovic – 9, Eala – 19
- Jovic’s Quarterfinals: 5 in 2026
After her match, Jovic expressed her hopes that both players will eventually reach higher rankings. She remarked, “Hopefully when both of our rankings go up, we will be on other sides of the brackets until semis or finals.” This reflects the mutual respect and camaraderie they share, despite their fierce competition on the court.
