ANA IVANOVIC AND JOVANA JAKSIC IN MONTERREY 2015

Last year at the Abierto Monterrey Afirme, Ivanovic and Jaksic battled it out in the first all-Serbian final in WTA history - Ivanovic won that one, but had some very kind words for her countrywoman. 

 "I think we both enjoyed the final - it was very special for our country, it was the first time two players from our country were in a WTA final together," Ivanovic said that night in Monterrey. "It was also great to see Jovana doing so well here this week. I think she definitely has a bright future ahead of her."

Jovana Jaksic wta blog. Jaksic told wtatennis.com

Until a few weeks ago she was best known for saving a whopping 14 match points in the final of an ITF Women's Circuit event this year, but Jovana Jaksic took it to a whole new level in Monterrey a few weeks ago, storming through to her first WTA final - and dancing her way into people's hearts.
The Abierto Monterrey was already Jaksic's favorite event - she made her WTA main draw debut there a year earlier and made the second round before losing to Maria Kirilenko. But she won over the fans. "The crowd was just amazing," Jaksic told wtatennis.com. "Maria took a break at one point in the match and there was music on and I just felt so much energy from the fans, and I just got up and danced! "Monterrey is my second home. I love being here and playing here. 
If you ask me, I could stay here forever and play all the tournaments here. What I have with the crowd is unique and it's something I dream about sometimes. Last year we made that bond, and I still have those emotions. "I love them so much. I think they love me too, but I think I love them more." Fast forward to the 2014 edition of the event and Jaksic had another special moment - it was the first time she got into a WTA main draw as a direct entrant, having qualified for all of them until then.

Ivanovic vs Jaksic to face off in Monterrey final 2014

Monterrey, Mexico, 6 April 2014 
Second seed Ana Ivanovic and Jovana Jaksic were semifinal winners on Saturday at the $500,000 Monterrey Open. Serbia's Ivanovic was a straight-set winner over third-seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 and will be appearing in her second final of the season, having defeated Venus Williams at the ASB Classic earlier in the year. Ivanovic will be facing compatriot Jaksic, as the 20-year-old rallied from a first-set loss to take a 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4 victory over Japan's Kimiko Date- Krumm. Ivanovic will be looking for her 13th singles title, while Jaksic is still searching for her first title. 
 This week's winner will earn $111,389.

Jovana Jaksic has dominated at the ITF level and has tasted success at the WTA level too

Every day through Friday this week, wtatennis.com will showcase Young Guns, those who showed signs of future stardom in 2013. 

 Jovana Jaksic has been a dominant force on the ITF Women's Circuit for a couple of years and this year started to make inroads at the WTA level. And it would surprise few if the 5-foot-11 20-year-old became the latest success story in Serbian tennis. "We're a really talented nation in sports," Jaksic said. "It's not just tennis - all sports. 
I'm really happy about it and I look forward to seeing many more Serbian players getting to the top. We're always fighting until the last moment.
" Here is some evidence from the 2013 season that Jaksic qualifies as a Young Gun and could very well follow in the footsteps of countrywomen Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic in achieving stardom: • Jaksic won three qualifying matches and the first round of the main draw at her WTA debut in Monterrey in April before falling to World No.12 Maria Kirilenko in three sets.

 • Jaksic won five ITF Women's Circuit titles, and during a stretch from February to April won or got to the final at six out of seven ITF events.
 • Jaksic recorded by far the best win of her career at an ITF Women's Circuit event in Sharm El-Sheikh in November with a defeat of No.30 Kaia Kanepi. 
• Jaksic soared 253 spots from her 2012 year-end ranking to her 2013 year-end ranking and rose to a career-high No.151 this week. And another ranking jump may very well be in the cards for Jaksic next year. "I'm just trying to be the best player I can be," Jaksic said. "I'm working very hard. I can't really say I have a goal for my ranking yet.
 I'm just starting at the WTA level, so I'm just trying to improve and we'll see."

source: wta official