Iva Jovic praises Alex Eala for what she said to her seconds after US Open defeat

Iva Jovic has praised Alex Eala after beating her in the US Open third round - and revealed what she said and did immediately afterwards.

The 21-year-old lost to Jovic in a three-hour blockbuster at Arthur Ashe Stadium 5-7, 6-3, 5-7 as the American, ranked 14th in the world, prevailed.

Eala hugged her opponent near immediately in the seconds post-loss, walking across to Jovic’s side of the net — in a move that almost brought the American to tears in her press conference.

“It says a lot about her as a person,” confessed Jovic, wiping her eyes while answering the question. “I’m gonna start crying. It says a lot about her… to be able to do that after that type of match.”

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Jovic praises Eala for her actions on and off-court after US Open victory

The American was yet to drop a set at the US Open, previously securing straight-set victories versus Magdalena Frech, and British qualifier Francesca Jones.

Eala’s form in the States matched that of her opponent, straight-setting Mary Stoiana and Oleksandra Oliynykova en-route to the Round of 32.

Jovic was asked by a reporter to share what it meant to see Eala approach for a hug so soon after the three-hour match revealed its winner.

In answering, the American also gave those in attendance an insight into the Filipina’s behaviour in the locker room, which Jovic affirmed matches Eala’s on-court class.

“That just says a lot about her character,” revealed the American. “[To] still come over to hug me, and wish me all the best.

“And even in the locker room behind closed doors… yeah, she’s incredible,” concluded Jovic, who will next face fellow American Coco Gauff in the Round of 16, who previously won the US Open in 2023.

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Breakdown: How Eala lost to Jovic at the US Open

For such a close game, the American pulled away from Eala with an additional ten points won throughout their three-hour showdown — 112 to 102.

However, Jovic won just one additional game, 17 to 16, and hit more errors than the Filipina, 41 to Eala’s 34.

The American propelled herself to victory by striking less unforced errors, 27 to her opponent’s 34, and hitting more winners than Eala, 41 to 34.

The Filipina saved match-point on her own serve, at 5-4 in the third to Jovic. Eala also led with a break in the final set, requiring just two holds to secure victory over the America.

With the 21-year-old up 4-3 in the final set, Jovic broke back, then did so again as Eala served to stay in the match at 6-5 down.

The American was slightly more clinical in her break point conversion, winning nine to Eala’s eight throughout the three-hour blockbuster.

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The Filipina, whose fanbase helped her to set a stunning US Open record before she’d even played a single match in the States, will surely learn from this experience at future Grand Slam events, having been just two games away from beating Jovic.