Iva Jovic remains resilient with parents Bojan and Jelena by her side after Australian Open 2026 Loss to Aryna Sabalenka.
The young American player Iva Jovic proved fearless in her match versus the world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open 2026.
It was undoubtedly a major turning point in her record pace rise in the grand slam tournaments.
Despite the straight-sets defeat, her composure and attacking mindset stood out on one of the biggest stages in professional tennis.
On the other hand, Sabalenka’s power and experience helped her to be on top as she controlled the game from the baseline, got the first break and kept incessant pressure on her opponent throughout the match.
The top seed’s dominant display allowed her to move quickly through to the semi finals, thus finishing the teenager’s great run in Melbourne.
Nevertheless, the young American did not give up and kept the fight on, where she created some wonderful moments and demonstrated the ability to hit shots that have already attracted attention on the WTA Tour.
Similarly, her fearless approach, even against the best players in the world, certainly showed why she is being talked about as one of the greatest talents coming through the sport.
In the end, although it was Sabalenka who stopped her run at the 2026 Australian Open, the breakthrough performance has been a testimony to her increasing stature in American tennis.
Likewise, with increasing confidence and experience, she leaves Melbourne as a rising star firmly on the radar of the global tennis community.
Iva Jovic Parents Story as Teen Star Opens Up About Her Family’s Immigration Journey
Iva Jovic was born in Torrance, California, to Bojan Jovic and Jelena Jovic, who emigrated to the United States from Serbia and Croatia before her birth.
Iva’s father was born in Leskovac, Serbia, and her mother comes from Split, Croatia, giving the rising tennis star strong Balkan roots despite being raised in America.
Likewise, both her parents are trained pharmacists by profession, and in fact their relocation to the U. S. story has a very different start to it after Bojan’s wife happened to win the green card lottery.
At the time, they weren’t married then, but soon got married, went abroad, and had to start life from scratch.
Since they had very little, they had to qualify again, take professional exams again, and, through a great deal of hard work, they were able to restore their careers.
Even though they are not in the spotlight, Iva Jovic’s parents are still very well known in tennis circles for their tireless commitment to their daughter’s growth.
Similarly, their resilience, discipline and commitment are still very much a major part of her rise on the WTA Tour and have really been the basis behind one of the most promising young talents in American tennis today.
Mia Jovic Follows Her Tennis Passion as a College Player at UCLA
Mia Jovic is the elder sister of Iva and a tennis player at a very competitive level. At the moment, she is a member of the college tennis team at UCLA.
Iva’s sister playing at the highest level in college sports has made her well, known and respected in the university tennis community for her attributes such as discipline, being consistently good, and a strong work ethic that extends beyond just the tennis court.
Likewise, being brought up in a house where tennis was a family love, Mia naturally took the role of a leader in setting an example for her younger sister who she assisted in developing a competitive mentality and love for the game.
Similarly, their tight relationship and undergone training repeatedly that strengthened each other values of discipline, resilience, and commitment, which was the main reason they were able to perform at the elite level.
She told the media at Australian Open press conference,
“I’m super lucky to have a family that doesn’t only look at me as a tennis player but just wants me to be happy,”
As Mia juggles both college and sports, her sister is making a fast rise on the pro tour, playing international tournaments and Grand Slams.
These two paths that the sisters have taken illustrate the various routes in todays tennis, with each sister performing brilliantly at her level.
Mia’s influence extends beyond competition, offering guidance, emotional support, and motivation throughout her sister’s rise.
As both a mentor and companion, she remains a vital part of the strong family environment that continues to shape one of the brightest young talents in American tennis.
Additional information
- She earned a WTA 1000-level win as a lucky loser, showing she can compete at the highest level of professional tennis.
- Iva experienced a rapid transition from juniors to pro, noting the difference in mentality and intensity against top-level opponents.
- Bojan’s daughter trains mainly in Florida, though still lives in Los Angeles, benefiting from USTA support and coaching by Tom Gutteridge and Kathy Rinaldi.
- She was inspired by top players including Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, and Jannik Sinner, modeling her game after them.
- She grew up speaking Serbian at home, which helps her communicate with extended family and maintain cultural roots.
