Iva Jovic has been one of the standout players on the WTA Tour in 2026, but she’s definitely taking a risk with her schedule.
Currently playing at the ATX Open in Austin, Texas, Jovic has risen to 18th in the WTA rankings at the age of 18.
She’s also just played her 18th WTA match of the season, boasting a fantastic 14-4 record in 2026, but Jovic must start to consider her busy start.
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Iva Jovic must consider her schedule after very busy 2026 so far
Unsurprisingly, Jovic is among the players with the most matches played in 2026 so far, with that number potentially growing with another lengthy run in Austin.
She won her opener against Anna Blinkova after one hour and 24 minutes, taking her time spent on court in main draws this season to 28 hours and 46 minutes, as per OptaAce.
Notably, that is now more than any other player on the WTA Tour, emphasizing just how impressive she has been in 2026.
But the figure is also a worrying one for the teenager, who simply has to be wary of not overplaying at this crucial stage of her career.
Jovic will be eager to play as much as possible, but avoiding burnout will be key to her long-term progress.
The issue is highlighted by the fact that many of her WTA rivals have decided to skip tournaments this season in order to prioritise their well-being, both physically and mentally.
Jovic hasn’t followed suit, with the 18-year-old currently taking part in her fifth tournament of the season already, with February having not yet reached its conclusion.
Making her singles exploits more impressive, but again equally worrying, is the fact that she has also been heavily involved in doubles.
The American could enjoy another lengthy run in Austin, which she follows by taking on Indian Wells early next month.
| 2026 | Career | |
| 18 | Rank | 18 |
| 0 | Titles | 1 |
| 14-4 | Win-loss | 94-35 |
| $592,183 | Prize money | $1,717,931 |
Iva Jovic can learn a lot from Jessica Pegula
Jovic is one of several American WTA players really impressing right now, with Jessica Pegula arguably leading the way.
Pegula won the Dubai Tennis Championships earlier this month, during which she reached a seventh successive WTA semifinal.
She met her fellow American Jovic at the WTA 1000 tournament, and even called her a miniature version of herself before winning their round of 16 match.
READ MORE: Jessica Pegula makes prediction about Iva Jovic after beating her in Dubai
Very likely key to Pegula’s title has been the balancing of her schedule, having withdrawn from the Qatar Open right after the Australian Open.
The extra rest and recovery would have been crucial to her Dubai success, after which she decided to withdraw from the ATX Open.
With one career title already and a top 20 debut after reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals, Jovic has been making huge strides on her own, but a helping hand wouldn’t go amiss at this early stage of her exciting career.
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Even a small bit of guidance could go a long way, and Pegula has proven to be a fantastic role model for younger players like Jovic, both on and off the court.
Fittingly, Pegula is leading the Tour Architecture Council, which aims to improve the WTA calendar, which has been an issue for many players in recent years.
She was on-site in Austin celebrating her 32nd birthday despite withdrawing from the ATX Open, where Jovic now takes on Ajla Tomljanovic in the round of 16.
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