Iva Jovic: Young American Embraces Djokovic's Blueprint as She Eyes Dubai Breakthrough
Eighteen-year-old Iva Jovic arrives in Dubai carrying the momentum of a breakout Australian swing and a rapidly rising ranking. The American has already moved into the top 20 after deep runs in Auckland, Hobart and the Australian Open, and she says she's modelled much of her approach on one of the game's modern greats as she prepares for a tough first-round test.
Rapid ascent and mindset
Jovic's start to the season has been striking. She reached the semifinals in Auckland, the final in Hobart and pushed into the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, where only the world number one stopped her progress. The heavy workload on the Australian tour was notable — she acknowledged playing more matches than anyone during that swing — but stressed that the results have validated the work she has put in.
"It's really special, " she said of the new status that allows her to plan a full calendar. "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. "
There is a fierce competitive streak at the core of Jovic's game. "I want to win every match I play. I hate losing, " she admitted, tempered by a pragmatic take on development. Consistency is the watchword: she has set a goal of becoming a player who reaches the latter rounds on a weekly basis and sees each encounter as a step toward that aim.
Her role model choice is noteworthy. Jovic has openly expressed admiration for Novak Djokovic, saying she tries to emulate aspects of his game and mindset. That reference speaks to a focus on mental resilience, tactical patience and physical preparation — traits she believes can help her bridge the gap against elite opponents.
Dubai draw and first-round test
Dubai hands Jovic a first-round match against Kamilla Rakhimova. The pairing has a recent history: Jovic defeated Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4 in Wuhan late last season, giving her a one-game edge in the head-to-head column. Rakhimova, listed in tournament materials as a player who has struggled to find consistent form in main draws this year, will still be no pushover; qualifiers, lucky losers and lower-ranked opponents can cause trouble on fast conditions if they execute power and depth.
Jovic had initially expected a different path in the draw but must now recalibrate for this opening assignment. She has shown a willingness to seek out the toughest opponents as a measure of progress, saying the best way to learn is to face the best — and that even losses can illuminate small details to be sharpened.
What to expect: projection and outlook
Form and recent results tilt the line in Jovic's favor. Her hard-court efficiency this season, combined with the confidence gained from deep runs, makes her the more likely winner on paper. One statistical preview favors a straight-sets victory for the American, and the prior 6-3, 6-4 result offers a blueprint she can follow: control the baseline, limit unforced errors and close points when given opportunities.
That said, this week in Dubai will be an important test of endurance and focus. The young American's schedule has been demanding, and maintaining peak physical condition will be as important as tactical execution. If she can marry her aggressive shot-making with the mental steadiness she admires in her role models, Jovic has a clear path to advance and potentially make meaningful inroads at a WTA 1000 event.
For now, the expectation is simple: Jovic arrives as a player on the rise, hungry to prove that her early-season breakthrough is the start of a sustained climb rather than a short burst. Dubai presents a chance to validate that trajectory — and to show that emulating elite habits can pay immediate dividends.
