We have said it before. Iva Jovic is America’s real deal in women’s tennis. Today in Mexico, she took another giant leap forward in her young career.
In a nerve-wracking semifinal full of power, precision, and raw heart, 17-year-old American Iva Jovic held off Czech teen Nikola Bartunkova 6–3, 6–7(5), 6–3 to book her place in the 2025 Guadalajara Open final—her first WTA 500 championship match.
Teenagers Go the Distance in Battle of Future Stars
The match stretched nearly three hours, showcasing two fearless rising stars pushing each other to the edge. Jovic struck first, controlling the tempo with a blistering serve and compact groundstrokes to take the opening set.
But Bartunkova, known for her aggressive all-court game, refused to fade. She saved three break points and served four aces, stealing the second set in a tiebreak with fearless ball-striking. At one point, she reeled off six consecutive points in a stunning momentum shift.
Bartunkova vs Jovic – Full Match Stats
| Statistic | Bartunkova | Jovic |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.03 | 0.97 |
| Serve Rating | 264 | 285 |
| Aces | 4 | 1 |
| Double Faults | 4 | 2 |
| 1st Serve % | 74% (35/47) | 88% (36/41) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 69% (24/35) | 58% (21/36) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 38% (5/13) | 57% (4/7) |
| Break Points Saved | 75% (3/4) | 0% (0/1) |
| Service Games | 83% (5/6) | 83% (5/6) |
| Ace % | 8.5% | 2.4% |
| Double Fault % | 8.5% | 4.9% |
| Return Rating | 202 | 135 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 42% (15/36) | 31% (11/35) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 43% (3/7) | 62% (8/13) |
| Break Points Won | 100% (1/1) | 25% (1/4) |
| Return Games | 17% (1/6) | 17% (1/6) |
| Pressure Points | 80% (4/5) | 20% (1/5) |
| Service Points | 60% (28/47) | 59% (24/41) |
| Return Points | 41% (17/41) | 40% (19/47) |
| Total Points | 51% (45/88) | 49% (43/88) |
| Max Points In A Row | 6 | 8 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Service Games Won | 83% (5/6) | 83% (5/6) |
| Return Games Won | 17% (1/6) | 17% (1/6) |
| Total Games Won | 50% (6/12) | 50% (6/12) |
| Max Games In A Row | 2 | 2 |
| Injury Timeouts | 0 | 0 |
| Set 2 Duration | 1h 23m | |
Still, Iva Jovic didn’t blink in the third set despite losing the tiebreak after leading 4–0.
In the deciding set, the American reasserted control by stepping into returns and targeting Bartunkova’s second serve, which dropped to 36% effectiveness. She broke twice and kept her composure to seal the win in 2 hours and 49 minutes.
Stats Tell the Story
Jovic dominated on serve, landing 83% of her first serves and winning 63% of those points. She also held 13 of 16 service games and committed only four double faults. Her consistency under pressure—especially in tight return games—earned her a dominance ratio of 1.21 compared to Bartunkova’s 0.83.
While Bartunkova racked up more aces (9) and hit bold winners at key moments, her second-serve struggles and 12 double faults left the door open just wide enough for Jovic to burst through.
What’s Next: Arango Awaits
Jovic now faces Colombian standout Emiliana Arango in the final—a showdown between two breakthrough talents hungry for their first WTA 500 title. Both players have navigated grueling paths to reach this moment, and fans can expect a high-stakes duel brimming with fearless tennis.