With four of the biggest names at this year’s ASB Classic squaring off in a first-round doubles match, it was billed as one of the highlights on the first day of action.
The match came down to some gutsy play from Eala, of the Philippines, and American Jovic who managed to save eight set points in the first set before clinching it 9-7 in the tiebreaker.
Eala and Jovic did not realise just how many set points they were able to save but said afterwards that they were determined to keep fighting.
"We just kept telling each other that we can do this, it’s not over", Jovic said.
"We kept repeating that to ourselves, and then we were very brave on the set point so that ended up paying off."
Spurred on by that, the Philippine and American players won the first four games of the second set, before Jovic was broken.
"There was a great first set and you get the momentum after that", Eala said.
"But it’s so easy to kind of crash, and I think we did a good job of keeping each other’s energy.
The young duo won the next two games to secure a place in the quarterfinals and Jovic at last got a chance to put her feet up after a long day on centre court, having defeated Gabriela Knutson 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 at the start of the day.
After losing a tight opening set, Jovic was pleased with how she played for the remainder of her singles match.
"The first set of the year is always tricky", she said.
"First match, feeling a little rusty, and my opponent, as a qualifier, she had her groove already, and she came out swinging.
"So, I think I did a good job of resetting and bringing my energy up in the second [set] and then riding it through to the third. It’s never easy in those types of matches. So I’m glad to just get through it."
— Allied Media
