The most entertaining match was born in Dubai on Chinese New Year's Eve! Jovic and Rahimova competed in a "fried dough stick" challenge dubbed the kitchen god contest.

On Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve, the atmosphere was full of celebration, and the first-round match in Dubai between Jovic and Rahimova was described by outsiders as “very fitting for the occasion,” turning their encounter into one of the most memorable matches.

Because Jovic had a breakthrough at this year's Australian Open, many viewed the 18-year-old American as a rising star. Thus, when she faced Uzbekistan’s Rahimova in the first round in Dubai, most expected Jovic to win easily. As long as the American could bring the same form and fighting spirit as in Australia, Rahimova was likely to be swept aside.

Especially after the American dominated the first set with a crushing 6-1 win over Rahimova, fans and netizens were convinced that the Uzbek player, who seemed powerless, would soon be swiftly eliminated by Jovic, with the match lasting no more than 50 minutes.

Before the second set even began, an interesting question arose: how would Jovic ultimately secure the victory? Would she "serve fried dough sticks" (lose points), or would she seize the moment while Rahimova was still unsettled, intensify her attack, and end the match with a "bagel" to seal her win?

However, once the second set started, the roles suddenly reversed. The Jovic who had seemed like a battle god in the first set lost momentum, while Rahimova took control, eventually returning the favor with a 6-1 set win of her own.

With such dramatic swings in the first two sets and both players’ fluctuating performances, fans and observers hesitated to predict the outcome of the deciding set. Given the surprising scores, it seemed either player could claim victory, completely overturning the earlier expectation that Jovic’s win was a foregone conclusion.

Still, some emphasized that although both players exchanged "fried dough sticks" in the first two sets, making it hard to tell who would triumph, one thing was certain: the final set would be fiercely contested.

Surprisingly, the expected intense showdown never materialized. After suffering a quick loss in the second set, Jovic, as if shedding her shell, returned with the strength of a battle god and decisively closed the match with a 6-1 final set victory, winning safely without major trouble.

After the match, many labeled it the most entertaining duel since the Dubai tournament began, believing that Jovic and Rahimova seemed to have conspired not to let outsiders easily predict the match’s flow or result. When you thought Jovic would sweep the match, Rahimova suddenly shifted the momentum; just when you expected the Uzbek to win, the American finished strong with a "fried dough stick," leaving everyone unable to guess the girls’ intentions.

Of course, post-match discussions focused heavily on this match between Jovic and Rahimova. Although the scoreline looked harsh, the two players delivered a full dose of comedy. On Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve, they directly competed in "serving fried dough sticks," and if you ignore the harshness of the contest, how fitting this scene was needs no further emphasis.

Another reason this match has been widely talked about is that all three sets featured "fried dough sticks," a rarity in tennis. Yet, this unusual event happened in the Dubai first-round match between Jovic and Rahimova — surprising and thrilling, isn’t it?

According to AI data, tennis matches where all three sets include "fried dough sticks" are extremely rare, with only about two occurrences including this Jovic-Rahimova match.

At the 2025 US Open fourth round, Sinner faced Asia’s top player Bublik. Almost everyone expected Bublik to trouble the Italian and make his path difficult.

Unexpectedly, from the very first set, Sinner turned this highly anticipated match into a solo performance. After serving the first "fried dough stick," Bublik seemed either to lose all fighting spirit or be completely stunned, succumbing to the "fried dough stick curse" and suffering a crushing defeat with three consecutive "fried dough sticks." The media reaction then was even more sensational than the recent Jovic-Rahimova match in Dubai.

After winning this "fried dough stick battle," Jovic’s current world ranking rose to 19th, a new career high. If she can overcome Schneider next, she has a strong chance to challenge the fourth seed Pegula.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River Sky)