US Open sensation, 16, leaves with six-figure payday and Coco Gauff backing

Iva Jovic can leave the US Open with her head held high and two key takeaways. She learned the hard way that Grand Slam tennis can be brutal, physically and mentally. But she also learned that she belongs.

"I think obviously you can say you're close to being at that level," she reflected. "It's nice to know you can play with those girls that are at the top of the game.

"It's good confidence to know that you're not far."

For the 16-year-old wildcard, that feeling of belonging not just on the court but in the locker room, surrounded by superstars, was part of the beauty of the unforgettable experience, which brought with it $140,000 in prize money after being beaten by No.29 seed Ekaterina Aleksanrova in a three-set epic.

"I've definitely gotten closer with some of the top girls," she revealed. "Specifically the American's, they're all really nice.

"Emma (Navarro), Coco (Gauff), Jess (Pegula), all of those. It's been nice to get to know them and be on a more familiar basis.

"I mean, honestly I haven't had like advice talks with them this tournament, which is nice. You're in the same locker room, so you kind of are equals this week.

"But in the past they've definitely said, 'just keep working, try to get better'. But it's nice to see just how humble and down to earth those girls are."

Shortly after talking up the American contingent, Jovic had a heartfelt moment with Coco Gauff away from the cameras and microphones.

The defending champion, no stranger to bursting into the scene as a teenage wildcard, had been watching the third set of her thrilling match before her own more straightforward encounter on Arthur Ashe. Like the fans crowded around Court 12, Gauff could not help but be won over by Jovic's gutsy performance in the searing heat.

"I saw her after the match, and I just told her, like, 'You played a great match, and you have a lot to be proud of'. Then I told her to have fun in the doubles," Gauff revealed.

Gauff noticed Jovic was "upset, visibly upset" immediately after her match. Once the dust had settled, she tracked her down to offer her own words of wisdom that will have no doubt meant a lot to the teenage protégé.

"I waited, and then two hours later I went up to her, and actually, literally right after my match, I saw her and told her that. I wanted to tell her that, but I wanted to wait until the emotions were down.

"I just hope that she continues to enjoy it. I didn't know much of her until this year obviously. So I have seen her around.

"I just try to be nice because I have been in that position. Some people weren't nice; some people were. It was kind of just, like, you know, a lot of people - some players don't like the young stars coming up because they feel some type of way.

"I just try to be nice and welcoming and know that there's people rooting for her in and outside the locker room."

In the immediate aftermath of her loss, there was an overriding sense of disappointment and deflation from Jovic. It was no surprise given the way she lost the match.

She won the first set, then bounced back from needing medical attention in the grueling heat, then exchanged numerous breaks of serve before Aleksanrova eventually prevailed 4-6 6-4 7-5.

Jovic refused to go down without a fight until the very end, saving six match points before a seventh proved a bridge too far. While she fell just short, her fighting spirit was apparent.

"It was definitely tough," Jovic said. "5-7 in the third, so it doesn't get closer than that, but it was a good match

"I mean, I didn't feel great and I think I could've played better, but she's obviously a great player and it was nice to play in that atmosphere, so we can move forward from that.

"I think the heat and everything is brutal out there, so just trying to get used to that and dealing with those conditions better for the future."

Yet after just a couple of hours to reflect, there was already a sense of acknowledgement that this experience will be vital and, crucially, it will not be her last.

"It's very motivating," she said. "I don't think I've had that type of crowd and support ever, really.

"So I'm happy my first Slam was able to be the US Open, because obviously as an American you get a lot of support. It was really cool to feel that."

"I didn't really have too many expectations going in. I didn't know what it was going to look like for me.

"Right now, I'm really sad about today. But I guess before the tournament if you told me that it would work out like this, I would be happy.

"I guess it's nice to know that you're kind of in the right direction, but hopefully I can get better and not lose these matches.

"It's been an incredible experience. I was here a week early just training, so just soaking it all in and being around all those great players, it's nice to see.

"I'll definitely use that to try and be here more often, not as a wildcard."

How would she sum up the last few days in one word?

"That's tough," she replies. "I guess just 'exciting'.

"There's a lot of people and it's just a great atmosphere. You want to put yourself in a position to play here consistently, on even bigger courts. Just trying to get there soon."

For the time being, Jovic's US Open journey is not over. She'll dust herself down, brush herself off and ultimately head into both the mixed doubles and girl's singles with an abundance of confidence.

She'll also go into those matches with a new-found reputation and a lot of new fans watching on curiously - including Gauff.