Iva Jovic, the youngest player in the top 20, recently won her second WTA title in Guadalajara.

The 18-year-old defeated Peyton Stearns in the final, 6-4, 6-2. In doing so, she climbed to 13th in the world rankings, her career-high.

After watching her win in Guadalajara, tennis legend Kim Clijsters explained how Jovic is already better than Jessica Pegula in one key area. The Belgian has now compared Jovic to another American tennis star, Coco Gauff.

Kim Clijsters says Iva Jovic’s mindset reminds her of Coco Gauff and backs her to win Grand Slams

During the latest episode of Kim Clijsters’ ‘Love All Podcast’, she shared her thoughts on the American number four.

“What I love about her is that there is a competitiveness in there that you see and that you feel, that is always pushing her. She is pushing herself to constantly get better,” said Clijsters.

American WTA players in the top 100

American WTA players in the top 100

“It reminds me of Coco Gauff. Her mindset reminds me of Coco. When Coco was 15 and we saw her at Wimbledon, if you put those two next to each other, the difference in muscle and power is also big, and she was already a really good tennis player then.”

Gauff made her Grand Slam breakthrough at 15, beating Venus Williams en route to the fourth round of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. Four years later, Gauff won her first major title at the 2023 US Open and doubled her tally at the 2025 French Open.

Clijsters believes that Jovic has Grand Slam winning potential, and backs her to win more than one.

“That constant willingness to improve and get better on the court, but also off the court in the gym, is why I think Iva will be competing for Slam titles soon,” she said.

“I think she can [win multiple Grand Slams]. If you can win one, I think you can win multiple. So if we see her as a Grand Slam champion, then why not multiple? But everything has to fall into place. It’s a constant learning experience, and in the Grand Slam there is always things happening that will throw you off or distract you from what you have to do out there.”

Clijsters backs Jovic to challenge for multiple Grand Slams, but how well has she performed at the sport’s four biggest tournaments so far in her professional career?

Iva Jovic has won 64% of her Grand Slam main draw matches

The impressive young American has played nine Grand Slam main draws since debuting at the 2024 US Open. Jovic has reached one quarter-final, at the 2026 Australian Open.

Iva Jovic’s Grand Slam results

• 2024 US Open – Second round (Lost to Ekaterina Alexandrova)

• 2025 Australian Open – Second round (Lost to Elena Rybakina)

• 2025 French Open – Second round (Lost to Elena Rybakina)

• 2025 Wimbledon – First round (Lost to Suzan Lamens)

• 2025 US Open – Second round (Lost to Jasmine Paolini)

• 2026 Australian Open – Quarter-final (Lost to Aryna Sabalenka)

• 2026 French Open – Third round (Lost to Naomi Osaka)

• 2026 Wimbledon – Fourth round (Lost to Jessica Pegula)

• 2026 US Open – Fourth round (Lost to Coco Gauff)

Looking ahead to 2027, Jovic will be keen to make further strides at the Grand Slam level. A second quarter-final appearance, a run to the semi-finals, or even better, would certainly be cause for celebration.

Before then, Jovic will turn her attention to the two WTA 1000 events in China. The 18-year-old will return to action at the China Open, which begins on Monday, September 28.