Tatjana Ječmenica
Serbian tennis player and coach (1978–2026)
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Tatjana Ječmenica-Jevtić (Serbian Cyrillic: Татјана Јечменица-Јевтић; 4 July 1978 – 13 February 2026) was a Serbian professional tennis player. From 2014 until her death, she was captain of Serbia Fed Cup team. This was her second stint at the helm; she had previously led the team between 2005 and 2007.
Yugoslavia (1993–2003) Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2005)Ječmenica in 2016 | |
| Country (sports) | Yugoslavia (1993–2003) Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2005) |
|---|---|
| Residence | Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia |
| Born | 4 July 1978 Novi Sad, SAP Vojvodina, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia |
| Died | 13 February 2026 (aged 47) Belgrade, Serbia |
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)[1] |
| Turned pro | 24 March 1993[1] |
| Retired | 2005 (last singles match played in July 1998) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand)[1] |
| Prize money | $163,876 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 106–62 |
| Career titles | 6 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 72 (24 June 1996) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (1996, 1997) |
| French Open | 2R (1996) |
| Wimbledon | 1R (1996) |
| US Open | 2R (1995) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 36–33 |
| Career titles | 3 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 88 (29 July 1996) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (1997) |
| French Open | 1R (1996) |
| Wimbledon | 1R (1996) |
| US Open | 2R (1996) |
Ječmenica won six singles and three doubles titles on the ITF Circuit in her career. On 24 June 1996, she reached her best singles ranking at world No. 72. On 29 July 1996, she peaked at No. 88 in doubles rankings. Her sister, Aleksandra also played professional tennis.[2]
In Grand Slams her best result was reaching the second round at the US Open in 1995 and at the French Open in 1996.
Career
Ječmenica started playing tennis in her hometown of Novi Sad at the age of seven[3] and attended the same school and played in the same tennis club as Monica Seles.[4]
Juniors
In 1993, as a second seed Ječmenica reached the final of the Orange Bowl 16s, where she was defeated by fifth seed Stephanie Halsell, who avenged the previous year's loss to Ječmenica in the quarterfinals of the Junior Orange Bowl 14s[4] (Ječmenica was eventually stopped in the semifinals of that tournament).[1] She won the Port Washington 14s.[1] In 1994, she lost in the first round of the Junior French Open, but won the German Junior Open, a Grade 1 event, without losing a set in the tournament.[5]
Junior Grand Slam results - Singles:
Australian Open: –
French Open: 1R (1994)
Wimbledon: –
US Open: –
Junior Grand Slam results - Doubles:
Australian Open: –
French Open: 2R (1994)
Wimbledon: –
US Open: –
Professional
As a touted youth prospect she enrolled at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy.[6]
After her longtime coach, Dragan Ćirić Šeki, who had coached her since she was nine,[7] died in a car accident on 10 October 1997,[8] Ječmenica didn't play for five months after being unable to find a new coach.[9] She also briefly trained at the Nikola Pilić Tennis Academy before retiring in 1998 at the age of 20.[9]
In 2001, she played her first doubles tournament in over three years and over the next several years would play two more doubles tournaments, reaching one final in 2004, before retiring for good in 2005.[10]
Coaching
Following her playing career, Ječmenica became a tennis coach and in 2004[11] founded tennis school "Ječmenica" in her hometown of Novi Sad for children aged 5 to 20, with some being ranked in the top 10 in the country.[7]
She served as the captain of Serbia Fed Cup team from 2005 until her resignation on 20 February 2007.[12]
On 5 November 2014, Ječmenica was named the captain of Serbia's Fed Cup team for the second time.[13]
Death
Ječmenica died in a traffic collision on 13 February 2026, at the age of 47.[14] She is survived by her husband, Darko Jevtić – who was in the same vehicle and remains in critical condition as of 14 February 2026[update] – and her son, Aleksa.[15] Novak Djoković shared his condolences on her death via Instagram story.[16]
ITF Circuit finals
Singles: 9 (6 titles, 3 runner-ups)
|
|
| Result | No. | Date | Tier | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1. | 4 April 1993 | 10,000 | ITF Marsa, Malta | Clay |  Stefania Indemini |
2–6, 6–2, 2–6 |
| Loss | 2. | 13 June 1993 | 10,000 | ITF Murska, Slovenia | Clay |  Rita Kuti-Kis |
2–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 1. | 12 September 1993 | 10,000 | ITF Varna, Bulgaria | Clay |  Antoaneta Pandjerova |
6–2, 3–6, 6–2 |
| Win | 2. | 30 January 1994 | 10,000 | ITF Austin, United States | Hard |  Tatiana Panova |
6–4, 6–7(9–11), 7–6(8–6) |
| Win | 3. | 19 June 1994 | 10,000 | ITF Maribor, Slovenia | Clay |  Zdeňka Málková |
6–1, 6–7(6–8), 6–3 |
| Win | 4. | 3 July 1994 | 25,000 | ITF Vaihingen, Germany | Clay |  Svetlana Komleva |
6–3, 7–6(7–5) |
| Loss | 3. | 20 November 1994 | 25,000 | ITF Bad Gögging, Germany | Carpet (i) |  Silke Meier |
6–4, 4–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 5. | 11 June 1995 | 25,000 | ITF Novi Sad, FR Yugoslavia | Clay | Andrea Glass |
7–6(6–4), 6–1 |
| Win | 6. | 6 August 1995 | 25,000 | ITF Budapest, Hungary | Clay |  Barbara Mulej |
6–3, 6–2 |
Doubles: 7 (3 titles, 4 runner-ups)
|
|
| Result | No. | Date | Tier | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1. | 30 October 1994 | 25,000 | ITF Poitiers, France | Hard | Svetlana Krivencheva |
Ludmila Richterová Helena Vildová |
6–7, 1–6 |
| Win | 1. | 20 November 1994 | 25,000 | ITF Bad Gögging, Germany | Carpet (i) |  Cătălina Cristea |
Kateřina Kroupová Jana Pospíšilová |
3–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| Loss | 2. | 10 June 1995 | 25,000 | ITF Novi Sad, FR Yugoslavia | Clay | Antoaneta Pandjerova |
 Laura Montalvo  Larissa Schaerer |
7–5, 1–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 3. | 9 July 1995 | 25,000 | ITF Vaihingen, Germany | Clay |  Elena Tatarkova |
 Henrieta Nagyová Radka Zrubáková |
3–6, 6–7 |
| Win | 2. | 6 August 1995 | 25,000 | ITF Budapest, Hungary | Clay | Svetlana Krivencheva |
 Magdalena Feistel Helena Vildová |
6–4, 6–3 |
| Win | 3. | 17 May 1998 | 10,000 | ITF Novi Sad, FR Yugoslavia | Clay | Dragana Zarić |
Antoaneta Pandjerova Desislava Topalova |
6–2, 7–5 |
| Loss | 4. | 24 July 2004 | 10,000 | ITF Palić, Serbia and Montenegro | Clay |  Ana-Maria Zubori |
Karolina Jovanović Nataša Zorić |
1–6, 4–6 |
