Iva Jović is quickly making a name for herself as one of the brightest young prospects in American tennis. The 17-year-old has already lifted junior Grand Slam trophies, collected her first professional title at the WTA 125 level, and earned main-draw wins at multiple Majors, all while carrying the pride of her Serbian and Croatian family roots.
Iva Jović Makes Headlines During 2025 US Open
Jović remains one of the players to watch at the 2025 US Open. Her first-round victory over Aliaksandra Sasnovich with a scoreline of 7-6(6), 6-3 has set up a rematch with seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, who beat her earlier this year at the BNP Paribas Open. Should she advance, she would meet either No. 32 seed McCartney Kessler or former Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová in the third round.
WHAT A BACKHAND WINNER FROM IVA JOVIC🤩 pic.twitter.com/uSS2TsuAa9
— NotLite (@NotLite_03) August 25, 2025
She is also active in doubles, teaming up with Clervie Ngounoue at the US Open. The pair will face Mayar Sherif and Magali Kempen in their first-round match.
Family Heritage and the Early Beginnings of a Tennis Journey
Born in Torrance, California, Jović grew up in a household that valued both sport and cultural identity. Her father, Bojan, is Serbian, while her mother, Jelena, is Croatian. The family emigrated to the United States before Iva was born, eventually settling in Southern California.
Tennis runs in the household, with Jović’s older sister, Mia, competing at UCLA. Jovic herself first picked up a racquet at the age of five and began training at local courts in California.
How Iva Jović Found Inspiration from Tennis Icons?
Like many young players of her generation, Jović’s love for tennis was fueled by watching the sport’s biggest names dominate the tour. In an interview at the 2025 Cincinnati Open, she recalled the early days of her fandom.
“I remember watching the Big Three [Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic] all the time. Novak was a huge inspiration for me, and then watching Serena [Williams] dominate. Then in recent years, watching Jannik Sinner, I love watching him and how he plays. I try to copy as much as I can from him,” she said.
The American teen has also cited Belinda Bencic and Iga Swiatek as players she admires in the sport.
Building a Reputation Through Junior Grand Slam Success
Partnering with fellow American (now Italian) Tyra Caterina Grant, Jović captured the girls’ doubles titles at the 2024 Australian Open and Wimbledon. The pair also finished as runners-up at Roland Garros that same year. Her junior accolades earned her spots in the USTA’s Wild Card Challenges, where she impressed with her ability to step up against more experienced opponents.
She soon transitioned into the professional circuit, making her debut at an ITF 15K event in Los Angeles. Jović advanced to the final before falling to Eryn Cayetano. In 2024, she clinched her first major professional trophy at the W100 in Charlottesville, Virginia. She added another milestone in 2025 by lifting her first WTA 125 Challenger crown on grass in Ilkley.
Jovic reached the second round at three straight Majors: the 2024 US Open, the 2025 Australian Open, and the 2025 French Open. Each of those appearances came through the USTA’s wildcard pathway. At Wimbledon 2025, Jović’s run ended in the opening round.
