August 12, 2024 – Top American juniors Matthew Forbes (18; Raleigh, N.C.) and Iva Jovic (16; Torrance, Calif.) won the USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 18s National Championships yesterday, earning each a main draw wild card into the US Open.
Forbes, who was seeded 20th, knocked off the No. 8 seed Jack Kennedy (16; Huntington, N.Y.), 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, in Sunday’s final. A recent high school graduate, Forbes will play college tennis at Michigan State in the fall. He notably won the boys’ 18s doubles title at the 2023 Orange Bowl.
The third-seeded Jovic defeated No. 5 seed Valerie Glozman (17; Bellevue, Wash.) in straight sets. The much-anticipated matchup featured Jovic, who is currently ranked No. 5 in the ITF’s world junior rankings and Glozman, who entered the tournament ranked No. 1 in the USTA’s 18-and-under rankings. Jovic won the girls’ doubles titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year and has helped lead the U.S. to back-to-back Junior Billie Jean King Cup titles.
Jovic went on to pull off the sweep of the girls’ 18s titles on Sunday, partnering with Tyra Grant (16; Orlando, Fla.) to win the doubles title. Grant was Jovic’s partner for both Grand Slam titles this season and the pair has also won back-to-back Orange Bowl girls’ 18s doubles titles. Meanwhile, Nikita Filin (18; Glenview, Ill.) and Alexander Razeghi (18; Humble, Texas) won the boys’ 18s doubles title. Both pairs will earn a US Open main draw doubles wild card.
Glozman and Kennedy will both earn a US Open Qualifying wild card.
