Iva Jovic confirms back-to-back finals in Guadalajara in all-American showdown against Peyton Stearns

Iva Jovic is still on to defend her title at the Guadalajara Open Akron following another dominant performance to make it two finals on the spin in Mexico. She sets up a tie with fellow American Peyton Stearns after she also battled through her match.

Ahead of a busy Asian swing, many tennis players have opted not to compete this week and rest and recover following the start of the Asian swing. However, there are some that cannot wait that long, eager to return to the court instantly, and what better place to do so in Guadalajara at the WTA 500 tournament. A lot of points are on the line with the finalists set.

Jovic was first up to bat against Cristina Bucasa, and from the off it was Jovic's to lose. The American won her first and only WTA title to date in this event last year and has the chance to repeat that success after a 6-4, 6-1 triumph.

After racing out into a 3-0 lead, it was evident that Jovic was in the mood, despite surviving a number of break point chances. She led 5-2 before a set point came and went, and that is where Bucsa saw her chance.

She confidently broke to love, getting the match beck on serve. Nevertheless, she was still in a position where she had to serve to stay in the set. Jovic made up for her previous error, going 0-40 to the good and taking a second set point to storm out into a commanding lead.

Jovic had to be slightly more patient in the second set, but once the first break came it was all over for Bucsa. After the Spaniard held serve to move the scoreline to 1-1, Jovic put the afterburners on. She won five consecutive games despite pressure on the serve late on, and with a second match point in another Guadalajara final, a tournament she is quickly becoming very fond of.

"There were so many ups and downs, but I was able to just hold firm on my serve and get through in straights," the defending champion said afterwards. "There have been a lot of different things to deal with, to adjust to, and I've just been having a positive mindset through it all."

In contrast to Jovic, Stearns took a more methodical start to things against Liudmila Samsonova, who had previously dumped out the No.1 seed Marta Kostyuk. Nevertheless, there would be more American success as Stearns prevailed 7-6(7), 6-2.

After going 3-0 and a double break down form the off, Stearns limited the damage by getting one of the breaks back before managing to claw herself level at 4-4. Another brace of breaks occurred as Samsonova failed to serve it out with Stearns preventing any set points from being created.

She would have the first chance, but she was not clinical against the Samsonova serve and a tiebreak was created. Stearns took a 6-4 lead, but her set point tally would go up to four missed, and eventually five. Sixth time is the charm in this case as she finally got over the line for the first set, and that seemed to be the catalyst.

A break to love was backed up with a hold as Stearns led 3-1 in the second set. She only faced one break point in the second set, and that was after she secured a double break lead to go 5-2 to the good and serve it out. She rode over that effort and booked her spot in a fourth WTA final, a second in 2026, and a first at WTA 500 level

"I think I started a little tense on my heels and she came out swinging -- she did a great job with that," Stearns said afterwards. "Once I kind of settled and relaxed a little bit, I ... felt like I did a better job."

It is a first time meeting between the pair who have a lot to play for in this very intriguing all-American final clash.