A three-set thriller from Jovic and Eala, and two ties to savour: Rybakina meets Osaka, Gauff meets Jovic
New York has its fourth round: Elena Rybakina against Naomi Osaka, and Coco Gauff against Iva Jovic, an 18-year-old who came from 2-4 down in the decider to beat Alexandra Eala and then wanted to talk about the hug she got afterwards. Rybakina is two wins from a shot at World No. 1 and refuses to look at it, and Osaka spent her on-court interview apologising to the children watching.
Iva Jovic, US Open 2026 | © Zuma / PsNewz
Elena Rybakina came through 7-6 (6), 6-3 against Yuliia Starodubtseva on Sunday night, and in doing so completed the two ties that will define the women’s fourth round. She plays Naomi Osaka. Coco Gauff plays Iva Jovic. It could barely be more exciting.
Rybakina needed a tiebreak she nearly lost, the Ukrainian holding a set point in it, and won her 44th match of the season. She is two wins from replacing Aryna Sabalenka as World No. 1 and was invited on court to think about it.
“Not there yet. It’s still very far,” Rybakina said. “I need to focus on my next match and not think about it. Whatever happens, I just try to do my best. I try to enjoy and fight till the end. Hopefully I’ll achieve the goal very soon. If not, I’ll fight and try to do it later. Doesn’t matter.”
Osaka apologises to the crowd
Osaka reached the same round the night before, beating Elise Mertens 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, her third win of the fortnight to go the distance or close to it after two tiebreak sets against Anastasia Zakharova and three sets against Katerina Siniakova.
She was harder on herself than the scoreline warranted. “Honestly, I didn’t feel like I played amazing, and it was really getting me down, like I was very negative on myself, so I’m really sorry about my behavior,” the two-time champion said on court. “For the little kids watching, I’m really sorry.”
“This is my favourite tournament so I really wanted to play well in front of you guys. I’m really glad that I have an opportunity to play another match.” The two have met once, in Toronto a few weeks ago, where Rybakina won in three sets. Osaka described that as a tough loss when she arrived here, and said she wanted to build on it.
Jovic comes from 2-4 down, and Eala crosses the net
The other tie was settled in an all-teenage contest that neither player deserved to lose. Iva Jovic, 18, beat Alexandra Eala 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, having trailed 2-4 in the deciding set. It is the American’s third Grand Slam fourth round of the season and the fourth top-20 win of her career.
What happened afterwards was the part she wanted to talk about. Eala walked around the net to embrace her.
“It says a lot about her as a person. I’m gonna start crying,” Jovic said. “To be able to do that after that type of match and still come over to hug me and wish me all the best. And even in the locker room behind closed doors. That just says a lot about her and her character. She’s incredible.”
She now plays Coco Gauff, who leads their head-to-head 1-0 from a match in Rome in which Gauff saved a match point. “I’m gonna be more than happy to bring this fight and this energy, whatever happens,” Jovic said. “Then I can leave with my head held high. She’s playing some unbelievable tennis and is a really great person.”
US Open 2026, Women’s Fourth Round
A. Sabalenka [1] vs T. Townsend – Sunday, Arthur Ashe Stadium, 11:30 AM start
M. Kostyuk [11] vs L. Noskova [6] – Sunday, Louis Armstrong Stadium, not before 12:30 PM
J. Pegula [3] vs S. Cirstea [16] – Sunday, Louis Armstrong Stadium, not before 3:00 PM
A. Kalinskaya [21] vs E. Navarro [26] – Sunday, Arthur Ashe Stadium, 7:00 PM session
M. Andreeva [5] vs A. Potapova [24] – scheduled Monday
I. Jovic [14] vs C. Gauff [4] – scheduled Monday
I. Swiatek [8] vs Q. Zheng (Q) – scheduled Monday
N. Osaka [13] vs E. Rybakina [2] – scheduled Monday
US Open 2026, Women’s Third Round
A. Sabalenka [1] d. K. Rakhimova: 6-3, 6-4
T. Townsend d. D. Shnaider [15]: 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-3
M. Kostyuk [11] d. E. Alexandrova [18]: 6-3, 6-2
L. Noskova [6] d. A. Li [29]: 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-2
J. Pegula [3] d. L. Fernandez [31]: 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
S. Cirstea [16] d. J. Paolini [19]: 6-3, 6-3
A. Kalinskaya [21] d. E. Svitolina [9]: 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
E. Navarro [26] d. K. Muchova [7]: 6-3, 7-5
M. Andreeva [5] d. N. Bartunkova: 6-2, 7-6(5)
A. Potapova [24] d. A. Anisimova [10]: 6-2, 7-5
I. Jovic [14] d. A. Eala [17]: 7-5, 3-6, 7-5
C. Gauff [4] d. C. Bucsa: 6-3, 6-4
I. Swiatek [8] d. M. Bouzkova [25]: 7-6(3), 7-6(3)
Q. Zheng (Q) d. M. Keys [22]: 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-5
N. Osaka [13] d. E. Mertens [23]: 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
E. Rybakina [2] d. Y. Starodubtseva: 7-6(6), 6-3
