When your idol becomes your opponent

Photo by Daniel Ward

Danka Kovinic said today that she's been "practicing my whole life to play with Jelena." The young Serbian player has made it very clear that she idolizes Jankovic, who has also served as her mentor, and Jankovic has made it clear how much their relationship means to her. That relationship is about to take on a new twist, however: Kovinic and Jankovic will be opponents in the third round of the Family Circle Cup.

Today, Kovinic, who is a qualifier, defeated 12th seed Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. In the first round, she defeated Christina McHale. Kovinic, who has a huge serve, acknowledged that "maybe it will be kind of weird" to compete against her idol.

Kovinic isn't the only one who has to play against the player she most admires. Sara Errani is Sara Sorribes Tormo's favorite WTA player, and Sorribes Tormo will play Errani in the third round. The young Spaniard defeated local favorite Shelby Rogers in straight sets today, and Errani defeated 2014 runner-up Jana Cepelova.