In a remarkable display of talent and resilience, 17-year-old Iva Jovic secured her first WTA Tour title at the Guadalajara Open Akron presented by Santander on Sunday. The young American clinched victory against Colombia’s Emiliana Arango, winning in straight sets with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-1 after nearly two hours of play. This triumph marks a significant milestone in Jovic’s burgeoning career, as she becomes the youngest American to capture a singles title on tour since Coco Gauff did so four years prior.
Jovic’s victory came not only with the joy of winning her first title but also with the distinction of being the youngest WTA singles titleholder in 2023, at the age of 17 years and 283 days. This achievement eclipses that of Mirra Andreeva, who previously held the record earlier in the year.
After her match, Jovic expressed heartfelt gratitude to the crowd, acknowledging the support that fueled her victory. “All of you made this happen, generating incredible energy. It’s not easy to start on the tour when you’re young,” she said, recognizing her opponent’s commendable spirit. Emiliana Arango, who was dealing with an illness throughout the match, demonstrated incredible perseverance, yet Jovic was able to capitalize on her opponent’s struggles to secure the title.
On her path to the finals, Jovic faced multiple challenges, with three of her five matches extending to three sets. Notably, she saved a match point in the quarterfinals against Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, ultimately winning that nail-biter 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(6).
The final was anticipated to be a battle between two promising talents, as both Jovic and Arango were vying for their first career titles. Arango, who had previously finished as the runner-up at the Mérida Open Akron this season, faced considerable difficulties during the final. Despite showing moments of brilliance, her performance was hampered by illness, causing her to frequently clutch her stomach and seek medical attention during the match.
Jovic broke serve early in the first set, but Arango managed to hold her own temporarily, showcasing her fighting spirit by breaking back. Nevertheless, after a closely contested first set, Jovic took control. As the match progressed into the second set, Jovic’s dominance became apparent, reclaiming momentum and ultimately finishing with four consecutive games.
In the post-match ceremony, Arango, visibly emotional, thanked her coach and the crowd for their support, highlighting her love for playing in Mexico. Jovic, full of admiration for her opponent’s tenacity, praised Arango for the entertaining match and her determined spirit.
Thanks to this victory, Jovic is set to rise in the WTA rankings, breaking into the Top 40 and sitting at No. 37. Conversely, Arango’s efforts also yielded positive outcomes as she climbed 33 spots to reach a career-high ranking of No. 53.
In the doubles event, the duo of Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Irina Khromacheva secured the title, overcoming the team of Giuliana Olmos and Aldila Sutjiadi in a solid performance, winning 6-3, 6-4. The match lasted a little over an hour, with Melichar-Martinez and Khromacheva demonstrating exceptional teamwork. This victory marked their first title together, solidifying their place amidst the elite in doubles competition.
Overall, the Guadalajara Open concluded with a blend of significant milestones and heartwarming displays of sportsmanship, promising an exciting future for both Jovic and Arango in the world of tennis.
