2026 Guadalajara Open Final Results: Iva Jovic Goes Back-to-Back in Mexico
Iva Jovic successfully defended her Guadalajara Open title, defeating fellow American Peyton Stearns 6–4, 6–2 in the 2026 singles final to become the first player to win back-to-back singles titles at the tournament. Jovic completed the week without dropping a set and collected her second WTA Tour singles title. In doubles, Cristina Bucsa and Nicole Melichar-Martinez claimed the championship with a 6–2, 5–7, [10–5] victory over Momoko Kobori and Peangtarn Plipuech.
Iva Jovic successfully defended her Guadalajara Open title, defeating fellow American Peyton Stearns 6–4, 6–2 in the singles final to complete another unbeaten run through the WTA 500 event.
The 18-year-old No. 2 seed did not drop a set throughout the tournament and became the first player to win consecutive singles titles in Guadalajara. Her victory on Saturday, September 19, gave Jovic the second WTA singles title of her career — both coming at the same tournament.
The 2026 Guadalajara Open presentado por Santander was played from September 13 to 19 on outdoor hard courts at the Panamerican Tennis Center in Zapopan, Mexico. The fifth edition of the tournament featured a 28-player singles draw and 16-team doubles draw, with a total financial commitment of $1,206,446.
2026 Guadalajara Open Final Results
| Event | Champions | Runners-up | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Singles | Iva Jovic (USA) | Peyton Stearns (USA) | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Women’s Doubles | Cristina Bucsa (ESP) / Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) | Momoko Kobori (JPN) / Peangtarn Plipuech (THA) | 6–2, 5–7, [10–5] |
Iva Jovic Defends Guadalajara Title
Jovic arrived in Guadalajara as the defending champion after winning her maiden WTA title at the tournament in 2025. One year later, she returned as a more established player and produced another dominant week.
After receiving a first-round bye, Jovic defeated Zeynep Sonmez 7–6, 6–4 in her opening match. She then overwhelmed 2024 Guadalajara champion Magdalena Frech 6–2, 6–1 in the quarterfinals before beating sixth seed Cristina Bucsa 6–4, 6–1 in the semifinals.
That set up an all-American championship match against Stearns, with neither player having dropped a set entering the final.
The first eight games went with serve before Jovic finally broke Stearns to move ahead 5–4. She served out the first set and carried the momentum into the second, breaking immediately on her way to a 2–0 advantage.
Jovic broke again for 5–2 before sealing the championship on her third match point with a backhand winner. The final lasted one hour and 26 minutes. She did not face a break point during the match, converted three of her five opportunities and won 70% of her service points.
The result made Jovic the first repeat singles champion in Guadalajara tournament history. She won every match in straight sets during the week.
Iva Jovic’s Road to the Title
| Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| First Round | Bye | — |
| Second Round | Zeynep Sonmez | 7–6, 6–4 |
| Quarterfinal | Magdalena Frech [7] | 6–2, 6–1 |
| Semifinal | Cristina Bucsa [6] | 6–4, 6–1 |
| Final | Peyton Stearns | 6–4, 6–2 |
The Guadalajara victory continued an impressive 2026 season for Jovic. She had already reached the Hobart final and her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open, where she recorded her first Top 10 victory. She also reached the second week at Wimbledon and the US Open. The Guadalajara title is expected to lift her to a new career-high ranking of World No. 13.
Bucsa and Melichar-Martinez Win the Doubles Title
Cristina Bucsa and Nicole Melichar-Martinez completed the Guadalajara doubles tournament with the trophy after defeating Momoko Kobori and Peangtarn Plipuech 6–2, 5–7, [10–5].
The top-seeded pair dominated the opening set before Kobori and Plipuech responded to force a match tiebreak. Bucsa and Melichar-Martinez regained control when it mattered most, taking the deciding tiebreak 10–5 to finish the one-hour, 32-minute final.
It was their second WTA doubles title together, following their triumph in Monterrey in 2025. They had also reached the WTA 1000 final in Rome earlier in the 2026 season.
For Melichar-Martinez, the victory was particularly significant. She collected her 20th career WTA doubles title and won Guadalajara for the second consecutive year after taking the 2025 title alongside Irina Khromacheva. Bucsa, meanwhile, secured the ninth doubles title of her career.
Guadalajara Open 2026 Prize Money and Ranking Points
Jovic received $185,500 and 500 WTA ranking points for winning the singles championship, while Stearns earned $114,500 and 325 points as runner-up.
| Result | Prize Money | WTA Points |
|---|---|---|
| Singles Champion – Iva Jovic | $185,500 | 500 |
| Singles Runner-up – Peyton Stearns | $114,500 | 325 |
| Doubles Champions – Bucsa / Melichar-Martinez | $61,540 per team | 500 |
| Doubles Runners-up – Kobori / Plipuech | $37,400 per team | 325 |
Bucsa and Melichar-Martinez shared the $61,540 doubles champions’ prize, while Kobori and Plipuech received $37,400 as finalists.
2026 Guadalajara Open Champions
- Singles: Iva Jovic (USA)
- Runner-up: Peyton Stearns (USA)
- Score: 6–4, 6–2
- Doubles: Cristina Bucsa (ESP) / Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA)
- Runners-up: Momoko Kobori (JPN) / Peangtarn Plipuech (THA)
- Score: 6–2, 5–7, [10–5]
With her second straight title, Jovic leaves Guadalajara once again as champion — maintaining a perfect record in finals at the tournament and establishing herself as the first player to successfully defend the Guadalajara Open singles crown.
