Iva Jovic, 17, Makes History with WTA Title, Cementing status as american tennis’ Next Rising Star
Guadalajara, Mexico – American teenager Iva Jovic has captured her first WTA title, becoming the youngest player this year to achieve the feat. The victory propels the 17-year-old into the spotlight as a major force in women’s tennis and marks a significant milestone in her burgeoning career. Jovic, originally from torrance, California, boasts a diverse heritage with a mother from Croatia and a father from Serbia.
Jovic’s rapid ascent is especially noteworthy given her recent ranking and rapid progression through the professional ranks.The win vaults her from world No. 73 to No. 36, a dramatic leap fueled by her Guadalajara triumph. This success also positions her as the youngest American to win a tour-level title since Coco Gauff’s victory at the Parma Open in 2021, signaling a potential changing of the guard in American women’s tennis.
Jovic’s journey began with a promising start on the ITF circuit, reaching the final of the W15 Los Angeles tournament at just 14 years old in 2022. She continued to build momentum, reaching the third round of the 2022 Junior US Open and securing her first ITF title at the W25 Redding event in 2023.
Her breakthrough onto the Grand Slam stage came with a wildcard entry to the 2024 US Open, where she impressively defeated Poland’s Magda Linette to reach the second round. Jovic continued to earn opportunities, receiving another wildcard for the 2025 Australian Open, which she also navigated successfully with a first-round win against Spain’s Nuria Parrizas-Diaz.She qualified for Wimbledon in 2025 but was eliminated in the first round by Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands.
At the start of 2025, Jovic was ranked 206th in the world, demonstrating the remarkable speed of her recent rise. Her current ranking of 36 underscores her potential to become a dominant figure in the sport for years to come.
