UPDATE: UWSer Aleksandar Kovacevic Returns to Tennis’s Biggest American Stage

UPDATE: Tuesday, August 26 at 8:30 a.m.: Kovacevic was upset in Round 1 by 21-year-old main draw debutante Coleman Wong of Hong Kong. The loss came in straight sets. (6-4, 7-5, 7-6) under a blazing sun on Court 13, in front of an enthusiastic crowd that was unfortunately never in a position to get too loud. Wong came through the qualifying tournament last week, becoming the first player from Hong Kong to reach the US Open’s main draw in the modern era.

By Tracy Zwick

When Aleksandar Kovacevic was growing up on the Upper West Side, his parents took him to the US Open every summer for Fan Week and Kids’ Day. They were big tennis fans and the price was right: free. As a young teen, the US Open meant ball-boy shifts for Aleks, who remembers gleefully blowing his earnings on Ben & Jerry’s milkshakes.

Now 26, Kovacevic is back at the Open, working on-court again — this time as an established pro. His ranking, currently number 71 in the world, earned him automatic entry into the tournament’s main draw for the second year in a row. On Monday, he faces Coleman Wong of Hong Kong, ranked 174, who got into the tournament’s main draw by winning three matches in last week’s qualifying round.

“It’s been a good year for me for sure,” Kovacevic said from the players’ locker room at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Thursday. “My best year on tour.”

That year has so far included a run to his first ATP final in Montpellier, France (ATP is the organization that runs men’s tennis), then another in Los Cabos, Mexico. He earned his first win over a top-ten player, Andrey Rublev. Kovacevic’s ranking went up to number 62 – the highest it’s ever been.

Still, grand slams, the four premiere tennis tournaments of the year, are special, and, for Kovacevic, the US Open is personal. His path to the pros ran through afterschool tennis at UWS elementary and middle schools and one year at Beacon High School in midtown. He moved to Florida at 15 to focus on tennis. Unlike most of his peers, he delayed turning pro so he could spend four full years at college, the University of Illinois, where he earned a business degree.

At last year’s US Open, Kovacevic drew his friend, Big Foe – star player Francis Tiafoe – in round 1. They played under the lights in Louis Armstrong Stadium, an All-American night battle in prime time. Kovacevic lost in four sets, and Tiafoe plowed his way into the semifinals, where he lost to American number 1 Taylor Fritz. 

This year the draw’s been kinder to Kovacevic. Coleman Wong, the qualifier he plays on Monday, is lower-ranked and had to battle his way through those three qualifying matches, the last one on Friday.

Tour life has given Kovacevic perspective about the luck of the draw and other such things: “It’s not always easy to be in the best head space when you’re playing each and every week,” he said. “Even when you’re winning, it’s tough being out there competing, alone. You can get humbled pretty fast in tennis.” 

Though there’s also validation. At last year’s US Open, Kovacevic played mixed doubles in addition to singles, with young sensation Tyra Grant as his partner. They made it all the way to the semi-finals, where they lost to Italian duo Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, who ultimately won the mixed doubles tournament. Errani and Vavassori defended that title a few nights ago, winning the 2025 title as well, earning them not just another trophy but a cool million bucks. 

“I feel a little vindicated now that they’ve won for two years in a row, and the best men’s singles players in the game have struggled with Errani’s serve. We lost to a pretty good team!” Kovacevic said. “Props to them.” 

At this point, Kovacevic has played most of his heroes, including Novak Djokovic, with whom his family shares Serbian heritage. But he hasn’t yet faced the current world numbers 1 and 2 players: Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. He’s eager to take the court with them.  “Those kinds of matches you can win or lose, but you learn a lot,” he said. Though he quickly added: “I”m not super sad that I don’t have to play them in the first round here.”

For now, Kovacevic is “locking in” for round one action – confident that “in grand slams, you just find a little inspiration.” The New York crowds make sure of it. “This tournament is more special to me than any other. I love New York – just being back where I grew up — it’s a nice feeling,” he said.

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