Guadalajara, September 19, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Iva Jovic and Peyton Stearns have set up an all-American showdown for the WTA 500 title in Guadalajara after both players advanced to the final with straight-set victories in their respective semifinals.
Second seed and defending champion Jovic defeated sixth seed Cristina Bucsa 6-4, 6-1, while unseeded Stearns overcame eighth seed Liudmila Samsonova 7-6(7), 6-2.
The final will be the first career meeting between Jovic and Stearns. Both Americans have reached the title clash without dropping a set in Guadalajara, ensuring an American champion for the second consecutive year.
Jovic, ranked No. 16 in the world, delivered a composed performance despite facing pressure on serve. The 16-year-old saved 11 of the 12 break points she faced, including all six in the second set, to complete the victory in one hour and 33 minutes.
After Bucsa broke her serve while she was attempting to close out the opening set at 5-3, Jovic responded immediately before taking control of the second set.
“There were so many ups and downs, but I was able to just hold firm on my serve and get through in straights,” Jovic said.
The teenager has now reached her second final of the season and will look to defend the Guadalajara title that made her the youngest American to win a tour-level trophy since Coco Gauff in 2021.
Stearns had a tougher start against Samsonova, falling behind 3-0 and later trailing 4-2. She recovered to force a first-set tiebreak and converted her sixth set point to take the lead.
“I think I started a little tense on my heels and she came out swinging – she did a great job with that,” Stearns said. “Once I kind of settled and relaxed a little bit, I … felt like I did a better job.”
Stearns carried that momentum into the second set, making Samsonova work through several extended games before completing the win.
The victory sends Stearns into the biggest final of her career. She is chasing her second title of 2026 after winning the ATX Open in February and now owns a 4-1 record in tour-level semifinals.
With neither finalist having lost a set during the week, Saturday’s championship match will mark a first-time meeting between two Americans competing for the Guadalajara crown.
FOLLOW NOW
