Iva Jovic, 17, shares parents’ emigration story and ‘menace’ memories

Fast-rising American teen sits down for an exclusive Q&A 

By Grant Thompson

Tennis fans should start remembering the name Iva Jovic. The 17-year-old, the youngest player in the Cincinnati Open draw, has soared to the third round as a lucky loser. In June, she claimed her first WTA 125 title in Ilkley to crack the Top 100.

Jovic is a California native whose parents emigrated to the United States before Iva was born. Her father, Bojan, is Serbian while her mother, Jelena, is Croatian. Jovic’s older sister Mia plays tennis at UCLA.

Following Jovic’s 6-3, 6-0 second-round victory against 20th seed Linda Noskova, the teen sat down to reflect on her incredible journey.

Iva, how exciting is it to earn another win at WTA 1000 level, especially in that fashion against a Top-25 player?

“It’s really cool and really exciting for me. It gives me a lot of confidence to have a win like that, at a tournament like this. Besides the Slams, these tournaments are as big as it gets and especially this facility and everything here has been so cool. You really want to do well here because you want to stick around, it’s just so nice. It gives me a lot of confidence moving into the U.S. summer swing, where you want to be playing your best tennis. I’m hoping I can just ride this momentum.”

You are in the main draw via a lucky-loser spot. How did you first learn of that and were you caught by surprise?
“Honestly, I wasn’t looking too much into [the draw]. After I lost in qualifying, I was just so sad and mad. I was just so annoyed that I didn’t even pay attention, really. And then the day after, my parents and coach were like, ‘You’re second [in line], maybe there’s a chance, try and stay ready’. And I didn’t really believe it until I found out the next morning that I was going to play that day. 

“I went from sulking around and being a little sad to being the most energetic person ever, I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m back in the tournament’! It’s kind of a weird feeling. I almost felt like I cheated my way into the tournament. It’s such a strange feeling, but I think it makes you play super free and almost helps you in the main draw. Hopefully I can just play like that no matter what my status is in the tournament.”

One year ago this week, you won the USTA 18s Nationals in San Diego. How would you describe the past 12 months?

“I think I’ve just done a really good job of improving every day and I’ve had a pretty steady and good climb every month. It’s just been really crazy to be transitioning because it’s so different from the juniors out here. It’s not just fun and games anymore, this is real stuff and it’s so exciting for me. I think I’ve done a good job of handling everything, but I’m always wanting more, so definitely trying to work for even bigger results.”

You mentioned that transition from juniors to pro. What has been the biggest thing you’ve learned or something that has caught you by surprise while making that transition?

“It’s just such a different mentality. In the juniors, people kind of give away points a little bit more or sometimes they’re not mentally as locked in. Here, you can tell that everyone’s fighting for every single point and no matter what the score is, they’re not going to go away. It’s just a different mentality and that’s what you need to get used to. 

“If you let up a little bit, it can be all over. That’s what I’ve been getting used to, just having to be so focused on every single match no matter who you’re playing. But I think I’m doing better with that now and it just makes you a better player to be playing against the really high-level pros. I’m so grateful to be here.”

What are your earliest memories of playing tennis?

“Definitely me and my sister, just absolutely going at it in practice sets. We were fighting so much. I was a little bit of a menace because I just couldn’t stand losing. There were so many fights and tantrums and everything. Those are definitely the earliest memories, but any fire is good I think in whatever way. Now I channel it into more positive directions, but before it was just me and my sister.

“At one point, my parents were like, ‘I don’t even want to go on the court. We don’t want to see it, so just come back in one piece please’.” 

Tell me a little bit about your training journey. You’re from California, but now train in Florida?

“I guess I live in Los Angeles still, but I’m not home very much with the schedule I’m doing nowadays. A lot of my training is done in Florida. Even when I’m having an off week, I’m in Florida a lot of the time. The help that I’ve had from the USTA has been incredible because I just didn’t have a travel setup with my training, so the past two, three years have really helped me develop — and just constant coaching and support has been good. I’m super grateful for Tom [Gutteridge] and Kathy [Rinaldi] and all of them who have given me so much.”

Is there a moment you look back on when you realized you wanted to be a professional tennis player?

“I’m the type of person who does something not just to do it, but to always have some kind of goal or dream in mind. Just watching the Grand Slam finals when I was younger and there was so much good tennis to watch. I remember watching the Big Three [Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic] all the time. Novak was a huge inspiration for me and then watching Serena [Williams] dominate. Then in recent years, watching Jannik Sinner, I love watching him and how he plays. I try to copy as much as I can from him. I think all the role models — and then you see them and you’re like, ‘Wow, I really want to do that too’. I’ve just grown into that desire through watching.”

How much do you know about your parents’ journey to the United States?

“My mom got a green card on the lottery, so super random. They weren’t even married at the time. They were already in a relationship, but they got married, came here and they had to start from scratch. They didn’t have anything really. They are pharmacists, so they had to do all their tests again and just work really hard to try and build a life coming from such a small country like that to the U.S. is not easy. 

“I think I learned a lot from them about hard work and having to earn everything that’s coming your way. They’re really great people. I’m so blessed to have them.”

And you speak Serbian within the household?

“I think it’s so nice. For my parents, it was really important to them that I spoke Serbian, so that I could speak with my grandparents, my aunts and uncles. I’m super grateful that I have that because now at these international events, it’s another group of people that I can communicate with and I don’t think communication with my parents and all my family would be the same in English. They’re so much funnier in their native language. My mom used to joke with me and say, ‘I can’t speak English, you have to speak Serbian to me’. It was super important to them.”

What do you enjoy doing off court?

“As a Cali girl, I think it’s all related to the beach. I love boogie boarding. I love surfing. We paddleboard a ton. I love going to amusement parks. I love Six Flags. We go to Knott’s Berry Farm [amusement park] a ton. Just the Cali-girl stuff. I live super close to the beach, so when I’m home, I go to the beach almost every day.”