Iva Jovic: "Simply trying to be like Novak Djokovic"
The 18-year-old American is in Dubai for the WTA 1000, where she spoke about her adaptation to the circuit and her role models.
The name of Iva Jovic is beginning to make a strong impact on the WTA circuit. The young American tennis player, one of the great promises of women's tennis, has had a start to the season that confirms everything she showed in lower categories. Her progression in recent months has been meteoric, accumulating significant results and, above all, a constant sense of growth that has taken her to the Top-20 in the rankings.
At just 18 years old, Jovic has made a very remarkable competitive leap. The young player showed great form during the Australian tour and is already starting to build a ranking that allows her to consider a full calendar within the circuit. In fact, she was the player with the most victories at the beginning of the season, reaching the semifinals in Auckland, the final in Hobart, and the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, where only the world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, could halt her progress.
Iva Jovic's Objectives
“It's really special. One thing is to play your first WTA tournaments and get used to it, but it's different to be in tournaments every week and have a ranking that allows you to play a full calendar. That was my objective, and it's pretty amazing to have achieved it as it is now and just be here, honestly,” confessed the American, aware of the huge step she has taken in a very short time.
Jovic doesn't hide her competitive nature, which has propelled her to a privileged position on the circuit. “Obviously, I want to win every match I play. I hate losing. But I also try to remember that just being here is an incredible achievement and privilege,” she explained.
The outstanding performance she delivered during the Australian tour marked another turning point in her progression. “I think I played more matches than anyone on that tour. It was a lot, but I'm very happy with how it went. I won a lot, and that's what you want, although I also needed to rest and train to take care of my body. Now I feel ready to be here,” she pointed out.
Novak Djokovic, a Great Role Model
Far from being swayed by her results, Jovic emphasizes the importance of consistency. “It might be surprising from the outside, but I know how hard I've worked. Good things usually come when you do the right work. For me, the most important thing is consistency. I want to establish myself as a player who reaches final rounds every week,” she stated.
In Dubai, she will face a tough debut against Maria Sakkari. A fundamental part of her growth has also been facing the best players in the world, as she acknowledged. “You want to play against the best to win, but even when you lose, it helps to see where you stand. The differences are small; they are details that you need to work on, and I'm already doing that,” she explained.
However, if there is a figure that inspires her, it's Novak Djokovic. The young player didn't hesitate to admit it with laughter and a bit of shyness: “I still get a little nervous talking to him. He's definitely my idol. I see him in every corner, on every screen. I think about how many times he's won this tournament. But I just try to be like Novak.”
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Iva Jovic: "Simplemente intento ser como Novak Djokovic"