Iva Jović has recently shared her admiration for Jessica Pegula, naming her as one of the top stars she used to watch to learn while developing her own impressive game. The 18-year-old rising star is all set to clash against Pegula in the round of 16 at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, after defeating Russian player Diana Shnaider in the round of 32.
Iva Jović Reveals the Influence Jessica Pegula Had on Her Career
Jović has commenced her 2026 season notably, reaching the semifinals of the ASB Classic and her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Melbourne Park after defeating talents including Jasmine Paolini, Yulia Putintseva, and others. At Hobart International, she reached the final round dominantly, losing the title to Elisabetta Cocciaretto in straight sets.
She is making her debut at the Dubai Tennis Championships, the WTA 1000 outdoor hard-court tournament scheduled from February 15 to 21, 2026, as the 16th seed.
The young American recently appeared on “The Player’s Box Podcast” along with hosts Pegula, Madison Keys, Jennifer Brady, and Desirae Krawczyk. She revealed that while growing up, she used to learn from watching the billionaire heiress, who had asked, “The player I learned the most from watching is?”
Jović answered, “Okay, Jess, I’m gonna give you a shout out here. Oh, because Yes, I’m gonna give you a shout out because A, I love watching you and B, when I was growing up, a lot of coaches would tell me that I should watch you and that that’s how I should try to play. So, I was always watching a bunch of your matches.”
To which Pegula replied light-heartedly, “Oh my god, that’s so cool. That’s why you were ripping those returns the other day, like taking it early AF. I love that, just not when it’s against me.”
READ MORE: Jessica Pegula Spotted Carefully Studying Iva Jović From the Stands Ahead of Their Dubai Duel
Considering her rising success, the teenager had expressed that she has a long way to go, adding, “Even though my ranking is where it is right now, I still feel very new on the tour. so I do feel like there’s a lot I still need to learn. But obviously it’s nice when you feel you’re still developing, but you’re already in a nice place.”
The Torrance, California, native is making her mark on the WTA Tour with promising performances and has also reached a career-high ranking of WTA No. 20.
In the Dubai tournament, she has defeated former World No. 60 Kamilla Rakhimova in the first round in three sets, 6-1, 1-6, 6-1, and then surpassed Diana Shnaider in the second with a final scoreline of 6-4, 1-6, 6-0.
