Alex Eala and Iva Jovic after their epic US Open battle on September 5, 2026. WTA
Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick has given Alex Eala and Iva Jovic one of the biggest endorsements of their young careers, calling their three-set US Open battle the “match of the tournament so far.”
Eala, the No. 18 seed from the Philippines, and No. 14 seed Jovic of the United States produced a marathon third-round contest inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday (September 6 in UAE), with Jovic eventually prevailing 7-5, 3-6, 7-5.
For Roddick, the match delivered almost everything that makes tennis compelling: elite shot-making, physical intensity, drama, a packed stadium and two young players who maintained their composure despite the enormous stakes.
Speaking on his podcast, Served with Andy Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion said the matchup was one he had been anticipating well before the two players met in New York. “This is a match that you circled at the beginning of the tournament,” Roddick said, recalling his earlier call to “get your popcorn ready.”
He described Eala and Jovic as “two future stars, current stars” and said the match lived up to the anticipation.“This was a high quality match. Three hours. Physical. No free points,” Roddick said.
The American former No. 1 was particularly impressed by the way the two players handled the occasion.
“They’re fantastic, the way they compose themselves,” he said.
The match was also notable for the friendship between Eala and Jovic, who have known each other since their junior days.
After Jovic secured the biggest win of her young career, the two friends embraced at the net, with Eala walking toward her opponent and congratulating her despite the heartbreak of the loss.
Roddick singled out that moment as one of the highlights of the night. “I can’t imagine her heartbreak with losing this match to Jovic but Jovic wins and.. walking across the court to embrace your friend right afterwards, I mean well into the real estate of Jovic after she’s won was just fantastic,” he said.
He also praised the Filipino supporters who packed Arthur Ashe Stadium to cheer for Eala.
The phenomenon surrounding the 21-year-old Filipina has become one of the biggest stories of this year’s US Open, with Filipino fans turning up in large numbers and creating an unmistakable home-style atmosphere whenever she plays.
Roddick said the supporters were passionate but respectful. “Fans were into it, cheering for their person. But doing it with class. Eala’s fanbase is obviously massive. It’s obviously loyal. And I’m sorry but they’re so respectful,” he said.
Roddick said he had specifically wanted to see the match played inside Arthur Ashe Stadium because of the atmosphere Eala’s supporters could create. “I wanted to see it in person, in the big arena,” he said.
The crowd was not the only thing that impressed him. Roddick also praised Jovic’s response after the match, particularly the 18-year-old American’s comments about Eala. “She always has a perfect tone. She’s very serious about her craft. Like very head down, ‘I’m not emotional, I’m here to do the job,’” Roddick said.
He added that Jovic showed maturity by speaking warmly about her friend despite beating her. “Wise beyond her years, she had empathy for her friend. Spoke lovingly about Alex Eala,” he said.
For Roddick, that combination of tennis ability, composure and mutual respect points to a bright future for both players. “The state of women’s tennis is in great hands for the foreseeable future with these two,” he said.
Jovic’s victory sent her through to the fourth round, where she is scheduled to face fourth-ranked American Coco Gauff on Monday (September 7) in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Eala’s US Open campaign ended in the third round, but her run further cemented her growing status as one of the sport’s biggest young stars. PIA/Expat Media
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