Two friends, only one spot in the second round!

Two days ago, Iva Jovic was commenting on Eala’s 21st birthday photo on Instagram. On Monday, the two best friends on tour will find themselves on opposite sides of the net for the first time in singles. Doubles partners in Auckland and Indian Wells this season, they know each other inside out. That’s tennis in all its everyday cruelty.

Iva Jovic, 18 years old, WTA No. 17, a right-hander born in Torrance, California to Serbian and Croatian parents, coached by Thomas Guttheridge and regularly advised by Djokovic, whom she openly calls her idol, put the tour at her feet in January in Melbourne. She became the youngest American in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open since Venus Williams in 1998, notably by defeating Paolini. Semifinalist in Charleston on clay, round of 16 in Dubai. She comes into Roland-Garros with the confidence of a player who knows she can beat anyone. Here in 2025, she won in the first round and then lost to Rybakina.

Alexandra Eala, 21 years old as of the day before yesterday, WTA No. 42, a left-handed Filipino coached by Joan Bosch and trained since the age of 12 at the Nadal Academy in Mallorca. Her semifinal run in Miami 2025 against Ostapenko, Keys and Swiatek revealed a player capable of beating the best in the biggest moments. Her left arm naturally generates difficult angles, and her heavy topspin game is built on the foundations of the Spanish academy. On clay in 2026, she is 4–5, with her best result a second round in Rome after beating Frech and Wang. Her last outing in Strasbourg, a three-set loss to Oliynykova after nearly three hours of play, shows a combative player who still struggles in deciding sets against resilient opponents. Here in 2025, she went out in the first round against Arango.