Iva Jovic and Peyton Stearns powered through their respective semifinals in straight sets on 19 September 2026, setting up an all-American final at the WTA 500 Guadalajara tournament — guaranteeing an American champion at the event for a second successive year.

Jovic Stays Dominant in Defence of Her Crown

Second seed and defending champion Jovic delivered one of her most assured performances of the week, defeating sixth seed Cristina Bucsa 6-4, 6-1 in one hour and 33 minutes. The 16-year-old, ranked No. 16 in the world, was tested early — Bucsa broke her serve when she was serving for the first set at 5-3 — but Jovic responded immediately and took full command in the second.

The American's serving held firm under repeated pressure. She saved 11 of 12 break points faced across the match, including all six in 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 victory sends Jovic into her second final of the 2026 season. She is bidding to successfully defend the title that made her the youngest American to win a tour-level trophy since Coco Gauff in 2021.

Stearns Turns the Match Around After Slow Start

Unseeded Peyton Stearns faced a sterner test, with eighth seed Liudmila Samsonova racing into leads of 3-0 and 4-2 in the opening set. Stearns gradually steadied, forcing the set into a tiebreak which she won 7-6(7), converting her sixth set point. She then carried that momentum into the second set, winning it 6-2 to complete the comeback.

'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 enters Saturday's final with a 4-1 record in tour-level semifinals. She is seeking her second title of 2026 after claiming the ATX Open in February.

A Historic All-American Final

The final on Saturday will mark the first career meeting between Jovic and Stearns. Notably, neither player has dropped a set all week in Guadalajara, making the clash between two in-form Americans one of the more evenly poised finals of the WTA calendar year. The result also extends a remarkable run of American dominance at this event.

What's at Stake

For Jovic, a win would cement her status as the most precocious American tennis talent since Gauff and provide a landmark title defence at just 16. For Stearns, it would represent the biggest trophy of her career and validate a consistent semifinal presence on tour. With both players at peak form this week, the Guadalajara final promises a compelling contest on Saturday.