Iva Jovic both thinks and wants Jessica Pegula to win Wimbledon this year after losing to her in the fourth round.
Pegula was full of praise for Jovic after their encounter at the All England Club in London, which she won 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
The youngster has now repaid the favor, having been asked after their match if she feels grass courts really suit Pegula despite her best results having come on hard courts.
Which Grand Slam is Jessica Pegula most likely to win?
Iva Jovic suggests Jessica Pegula can win Wimbledon
Pegula has now matched her best run at Wimbledon by reaching the quarterfinals, with Jovic saying of her fellow American: “Yeah, I mean, I think she’s probably just as good on the grass and the hard.
“She plays very flat. She plays early. Her strokes are very compact, so she’s not rushed very often. I mean, she’s already in the quarters now, right?
“I think she can keep going here, definitely. I think it’s a great surface. I feel like she’s proven she can play on everything. Definitely the faster courts are even better for her.”
And when asked if she would like to see Pegula “win one of these”, having never done so before, Jovic said: “I would like to see her win, yeah.
“Fellow American, nice girl. I would like to see it happen, yeah. I think she can do it.”
Pegula was still awaiting her quarterfinal opponent at the time of Jovic’s comments, but it was between their compatriot Coco Gauff and Swiss ace Belinda Bencic.
Her best career Grand Slam finish came on the hard courts of the US Open in 2024, when she lost the final to Aryna Sabalenka.
Iva Jovic assesses her level vs top WTA players after Wimbledon exit
Jovic was also tasked with discussing herself after her Grand Slam exit, having been asked what she thinks her level is with the top players.
“I mean, I think my results and everything speak for where I’m at right now,” she replied. “I think every loss I have had in this European swing has been in three sets.
“Obviously I had a good win against Amanda [Anisimova] in Queen’s. So I think I’m where I’m at, you know.
“I’m somewhere in the top 20. I don’t know where exactly. But in order for me to break the top 10 and consistently get to that level, I just need to keep improving.
“Yeah, the first two shots in the point, once you’re more stable with those, I think you can consistently beat the top players.
“Getting closer, but need to work a little bit more to get there.”
It’s been a sensational rise for Jovic, who at the age of 18 is a one-time WTA champion and is currently ranked 16th in the world.
She has a long and exciting career ahead, but the teenager has already established herself among the biggest talents in women’s tennis.
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