Iva Jovic and Peyton Stearns to Compete in All-American Final in Guadalajara

Jovic advanced by defeating No. 6 seed Cristina Bucsa with a score of 6-4, 6-1, never trailing in the match. Meanwhile, unseeded Stearns overcame an early double-break deficit against No. 8 seed Liudmila Samsonova, winning 7-6(7), 6-2.

This will be the first matchup between Jovic and Stearns, with the title on the line. Stearns is looking to secure her second title of 2026 after winning the ATX Open in February. Both players remain undefeated in sets throughout the tournament.

Jovic’s strong serving was a highlight of her semifinal performance, with on-court interviewer Andrew Krasny noting that she served "out of her mind." Reaching her second final of the season, Jovic saved 11 of 12 break points against Bucsa, including all six in the second set. She expressed satisfaction with her ability to maintain focus through ups and downs during the match, saying she managed to hold her serve and adapt positively as the defending champion.

Conversely, Stearns had a slower start against Samsonova but made necessary adjustments to find her rhythm. After falling behind early in the first set, she credited a mental reset for turning the match in her favor. Although she had two set points in the 12th game, she eventually secured the set in the tiebreak.

With this victory, Stearns continues her positive trend, now boasting a 4-1 career record in semifinals at the tour level, although all previous appearances were in WTA 250 events.