Iva Jovic Defeats Amanda Anisimova to Reach Queen's Club Semifinals

Eighteen-year-old Iva Jovic has upset second seed Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 at the HSBC Championships at Queen's Club, securing the finest victory of her young career. The American teenager, seeded sixth in the tournament, overcame the 2025 Wimbledon finalist to earn a spot in the semifinals, marking her first Top 5 victory on the professional tour.

Match Performance

Jovic's victory demonstrated technical precision against one of the WTA Tour's most aggressive ball-strikers. Anisimova produced 29 winners during the match, significantly outpacing Jovic's 17, yet the teenager's consistency proved decisive. She limited her unforced errors to 15 compared to Anisimova's 39, illustrating her ability to maintain composure under pressure.

The third-set breakthrough came after Jovic navigated early difficulties in the second set, where she trailed 5-0 before mounting a comeback. Despite the deficit, Jovic continued adjusting her game, mixing aggressive play at the net with strategic return placement. She seized an early break in the third set and maintained her advantage through the conclusion, despite Anisimova's late-match resistance.

Career Trajectory

The Queen's Club victory represents another milestone in Jovic's rapid ascent through professional tennis. Two years prior, she captured the Wimbledon girls' doubles championship alongside Tyra Caterina Grant. Last year, she broke into the Top 100 after winning the Ilkley WTA 125 title, then qualified for the Wimbledon main draw. This season has included a quarterfinal run at the Australian Open and four additional tour-level semifinals, establishing her position within the Top 20 rankings.

Following her victory over Anisimova, Jovic emphasized areas for continued development. "Every match I feel more confident on the grass," she stated. "I have to keep working on my serve, my return—the first couple of shots in the point are super important on grass. But it's trending in the right direction. Just stacking up the matches." Her focus on fundamentals and match accumulation reflects a measured approach to her growing responsibilities at elite level competition.