Week in Review: Jovic Claims Second Consecutive Title, Quevedo Wins First

Iva Jovic made headlines by earning her second straight title in Guadalajara. The 18-year-old, who first gained prominence at this tournament last year, displayed dominance throughout the week, winning all matches without dropping a set. She defeated Zeynep Sonmez, Magdalena Frech, and Cristina Bucsa, before overcoming Peyton Stearns in the final with a score of 6-4, 6-2. Jovic's victory improved her record at the event to 9-0 and boosted her ranking to a career-high No. 13 in the PIF WTA Rankings.

In Sao Paulo, Kaitlin Quevedo celebrated her inaugural WTA Tour title at the SP Open. The 20-year-old Spaniard secured her achievement by navigating through her first three matches easily, then rallying in two challenging three-set matches. In the final, delayed by rain, Quevedo came back from a set down to win against Nadia Podoroska, finishing at 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. This victory marks a remarkable rise for Quevedo, who is now ranked No. 73, entering the Top 100 for the first time eight months after her tour debut in Auckland.

Among the notable matches, Liudmila Samsonova triumphed over Kayla Day in a gripping Guadalajara Round of 16 match. After trailing 4-0 in the third set, Day fought back to force a tiebreak, but Samsonova prevailed with scores of 7-6 (4), 2-6, 7-6 (5).

In Sao Paulo, Eva Lys achieved a significant comeback against Gabriela Ce in a round of 32 match. After winning the first set 6-1, Lys faced adversity but ultimately won 6-1, 5-7, 7-5, after overcoming a 5-3 deficit in the final set, in a match that spanned over two days and lasted 2 hours and 33 minutes.

A notable upset occurred when Liudmila Samsonova defeated Marta Kostyuk in the Guadalajara quarterfinals. Despite being placed lower in the rankings, Samsonova maintained her perfect record against Kostyuk, winning 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, and marking her first Top 10 victory since June 2025. Following the match, Kostyuk announced via social media that she would miss the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup quarterfinals to allow her injured wrist to heal.

Peyton Stearns showcased an exceptional forehand winner during her match against Samsonova, demonstrating her skill in a long rally.

Additionally, Czechia's Vendula Valdmannova, at just 18 years old, achieved her first tour-level victory, defeating Laura Pigossi 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 in Sao Paulo, before losing her next match to Anna Blinkova.

On a larger stage, the WTA Finals announced its future location, confirming that the tournament will be held in Charlotte from 2027 to 2029, after the current year’s event at Indian Wells. The Finals will take place at the Spectrum Center, home to the NBA's Charlotte Hornets.

Lastly, Elena Rybakina, fresh from her US Open victory and ascendance to World No. 1, engaged in promotional appearances, including segments on NBC's "Today" and "CBS Mornings."