Iva Jovic fights back tears after Alex Eala turns heartbreak into touching moment

Alexandra Eala's US Open campaign ended in a bruising three-set defeat to close friend Iva Jovic, but her touching post-match gesture stole the spotlight. Eala embraced Jovic at the net and wished her well, leaving the American visibly emotional after an intense battle between two close friends.Iva Jovic fights back tears after Alex Eala turns heartbreak into touching moment. Courtesy: ReutersAlexandra Eala may have walked away from Arthur Ashe Stadium with her US Open campaign over, but the Filipina left behind a moment that said far more about her than the result ever could.After a bruising three-set battle against close friend Iva Jovic, Eala walked around the net and embraced the American. It was a touching end to a contest in which friendship had been temporarily put aside for three hours of fierce competition.Jovic, who eventually prevailed 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, was visibly emotional when asked about the gesture in her post-match press conference.“It says a lot about her as a person. I’m going to start crying. But it says a lot about her character that she was able to do that after that type of match and still come over to hug me and wish me all the best," Jovic said. "She even did the same thing in the locker room behind closed doors. That just says a lot about her and her character. Yeah, she’s incredible," Jovic added.It was an appropriate ending to an extraordinary contest between two players whose relationship extends well beyond the tennis court.A FRIENDSHIP TESTED REPEATEDLY ON COURT Eala and Jovic have developed a close friendship on tour despite being fierce competitors. Their US Open meeting was their third encounter of 2026, with Jovic winning all three.The American had beaten Eala in the second round at Queen’s Club and again in the first round of Roland Garros. Their US Open meeting therefore carried another layer of intrigue, particularly because the two had also shared the court during US Open Fan Week in a light-hearted exhibition that showcased their friendship.Iva Jovic on Alex Eala walking to her side of the net to hug her after their match at U.S. Open, ‘That just says a lot about her & her character. Yeah, she’s incredible’“Alex went over to the other side of the net to give you a hug afterwards. If you could share a bit about pic.twitter.com/31ih4j6VFw— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 6, 2026The latest meeting, however, was anything but light-hearted.Eala, seeded No.17, fought back after losing the opening set and levelled the match by taking the second 6-3. She then appeared to have the momentum when she moved 4-2, 30-0 ahead in the deciding set. Jovic, though, refused to buckle, winning five of the final six games to complete a remarkable comeback.The match featured an extraordinary 17 service breaks, while Jovic struck 44 winners and Eala 34 in a contest that lasted around three hours.For Eala, the defeat brought an end to a significant US Open campaign. She had opened with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 win over American qualifier Mary Stoiana before beating Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-1, 6-4 in the second round. The latter victory sent her into the third round of the US Open for the first time.Jovic, meanwhile, advanced to her first US Open Round of 16 and her third Grand Slam fourth round of the season. At just 18, she also became the youngest American woman to reach three Grand Slam fourth rounds in a single season since Venus Williams in 1998.Yet amid all the records and rivalry, it was perhaps the image of Eala walking to Jovic's side of the net that will linger longest.For one night, the scoreboard separated them. The hug made clear that it did not.- EndsPublished By: sabyasachi chowdhuryPublished On: Sep 6, 2026 19:00 IST