​Tennis – U.S. Open – Flushing Meadows, New York, United States – September 7, 2026 Coco Gauff of the U.S. shakes hands with Iva Jovic of the U.S. after winning her round of 16 match IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Robert DeutschCoco Gauff and Iva Jovic locked horns in a blockbuster all-American battle in the fourth round of the 2026 US Open. After emerging victorious, Gauff shared a heartwarming message for Jovic, highlighting her ability to identify with the challenges of navigating the WTA Tour as a young breakout star.Why Coco Gauff Showed Appreciation for Iva Jovic After Their US Open BattleGauff, who has yet to lose a set during her campaign at the US Open, produced another commanding performance in the fourth round, securing a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Jovic. With her win, the world No. 4 advanced to the quarterfinals of her home Slam for the first time since lifting the coveted trophy in 2023.During her on-court interview, Gauff was quick to shower Jovic with praise, empathizing with the 18-year-old before urging the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium to applaud the young star.“Iva’s an incredible player, an incredible talent. She plays beyond her years and I’ve been in a similar position as her. So, I’m looking forward to many more battles out here. I’m sure we’ll be playing a lot more matches in the future. So yeah, let’s give it up for Iva,” Gauff said.Gauff elaborated on why she felt it was important to show love to her fellow American during her post-match press conference. Having been in similar positions herself, the world No. 4 acknowledged how well Jovic had played despite the loss.“I just remember when I was that age, every loss was so low and every win was so high and I think there’s lessons to be learned in the losses. I mean, she seems a little bit more mature than maybe I was at 18, but I feel like sometimes the losses for me felt so low. So, I think it’s just important knowing or giving her to know that she’s playing good level of tennis,” Gauff said.The two-time Grand Slam champion also expressed her belief that there are important lessons to be learned from defeats and made a promising prediction for Jovic’s future.“I think today it just went my way, sometimes experience does matter. I’m someone who played well young, too, so it doesn’t always matter, but sometimes it does matter and you just learn those lessons and I know that she’ll be in many more fourth rounds and quarters and she’ll capitalize on those moments next time,” she added.Gauff’s kind words will likely be very meaningful for Jovic, who has previously spoken about how much she values the 22-year-old’s advice and guidance.MORE: ‘It’s Tricky’ – Iva Jovic Sheds Light on Her Dynamic With Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula Ahead of US OpenUp next, No. 4 Coco Gauff will lock horns with No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva in a highly anticipated quarterfinal clash at the US Open. Gauff will have a major advantage heading into the contest, as she