Sixteen-year-old Czech tennis talent Jana Kovačková advanced to the junior singles semifinals of the US Open in New York, continuing a stellar run at Flushing Meadows that mirrors her breakthrough performance earlier this year at Roland Garros. According to tournament reports, Kovačková secured her spot in the final four when her quarterfinal opponent, American player Janae Preston, retired after losing the opening set 6-2.
A Commanding Quarterfinal Run at Flushing Meadows
Entering the hard-court Grand Slam as the tournament’s second seed, Kovačková has largely lived up to her billing. Records from the event show that she dropped just one set across her opening rounds—surviving a sluggish start in her tournament opener against American Lani Chang before roaring back. In subsequent rounds, she dispatched American Hannah Ayrault and Russia’s Arina Malygina in straight sets.
The quarterfinal matchup against Preston began with the young Czech player finding immediate rhythm from the baseline and behind her serve. She raced to a 4-0 lead before Preston managed to get on the board. Trutnov-native Kovačková kept her service games spotless, closing out the opening frame 6-2 in 33 minutes. The American was unable to take the court for the second set, sending Kovačková through to the semifinals.
Chasing History on the Junior Grand Slam Stage
With this latest result, Kovačková matches her career-best performance at a junior major, having also reached the semifinals at the French Open earlier this year. Standing between the second seed and a spot in the championship match is Russia’s Anna Pushkareva. While Kovačková already boasts a complete junior doubles career Grand Slam—including a triumph last year alongside Kateřina Zajíčková—her campaign to repeat in New York ended with an eighth-final exit against an Indo-Ukrainian pairing.
In the junior world rankings, Kovačková holds the No. 442 spot overall and stands at No. 8 among players under eighteen years of age. She shares her competitive drive with her older sister, Alena Kovačková, who sits at No. 402 globally. Czech competitors have appeared in the junior US Open finals in recent years, with Tereza Valentová in 2023 and Lucie Havlíčková in 2022.
What Comes Next in New York
Kovačková will face Anna Pushkareva on the tournament courts in New York with a spot in the US Open junior singles final on the line. Tournament officials will release the official order of play ahead of the weekend matches.
