Aryna Sabalenka vs Iva Jovic prediction, betting tips & odds, head-to-head, preview: Australian Open 2026
Jovic is the youngest Australian Open singles quarterfinalist since 1998.
Iva Jovic is the second teen Aryna Sabalenka will have to face back-to-back after the 18-year-old American advanced following a 6-0, 6-1 rout of Yulia Putintseva.
Jovic, playing in just her sixth Grand Slam and her first as a seeded player, took only 53 minutes to reach the last eight. It was the quickest match of the 2026 edition so far.
She is now the youngest American since Venus Williams in 1998 to reach the Australian Open women’s singles quarter-finals. The American teenager has yet to drop a set so far in the tournament. She got 71 per cent (27/38) of her first serves in, and recorded 15 winners to Putintseva’s four in a lop-sided match.
Winner of the WTA 500 event in Guadalajara last year, Jovic powered her way into her first major quarter-final following the straight sets win over Putintseva. She will make her Top 20 debut by advancing to the 2026 Australian Open quarterfinals.
Her rival in the quarter-final round, Sabalenka, was the first to book a spot in the last eight with a 6-1, 7-6(1) win on Sunday against Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko. She will play her fifth consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final as World No. 1.
Sabalenka advanced to her 13th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final after sealing victory against Mboko on Rod Laver Arena. The top-seeded Sabalenka struck 31 winners to 19 by the No. 17 seed.
Mboko scripted a late surge, saving three match points at 5-4 and forcing Sabalenka into a tie-break for the second consecutive match. Despite the 19-year-old Canadian’s efforts, Sabalenka won in 96 minutes, while also winning her 20th consecutive tiebreak at a Grand Slam.
The Belarusian eclipsed Novak Djokovic’s long-standing record of 19 straight tiebreaks won between Wimbledon 2005 and 2007. The last tiebreak Sabalenka lost at a major was to Karolina Muchova in the 2023 French Open semifinals.
Match details
- Tournament: Australian Open 2026
- Round: Quarter-final
- Date: January 27
- Venue: Melbourne, Australia
- Surface: Hard Court
Preview
Iva Jokic secured a major career breakthrough in Melbourne when she defeated Jasmine Paolini in the third round for her first WTA Top 10 win. She has the company of compatriot and two-time Grand Slam champion, Coco Gauff, in the last eight.
“I am just to try and keep taking care of my side of the net. You definitely want to play the best and see how it goes. So I am just really excited.” – Iva Jovic on the upcoming match against the World No. 1.
Jovic’s secret sauce behind her deep run in Melbourne is advice from Novak Djokovic. The 2026 Hobart International put the advice to good use to defeat No. 8 seed Italian Jasmine Paolini in the third round.
The Serbian-American plans to continue following Djokovic’s advice against Sabalenka, which was to open up the court and not rush into her shots.
A face-off with either Gauff or Elina Svitolina awaits the winner of the last eight clash between Jovic and Sabalenka. Top seed remains in contention for her third Australian Open and fifth Grand Slam title.
Should she win in Melbourne this fortnight, she will have done one better than compatriot Victoria Azarenka. Azarenka won back-to-back titles in Melbourne Park in 2012 and 2013.
Form
- Aryna Sabalenka: W-W-W-W-W
- Iva Jovic: W-W-W-W-L
Head-to-head record
- Matches: 0
- Aryna Sabalenka: 0
- Iva Jovic: 0
Stats
Aryna Sabalenka
- Sabalenka has an 8-0 win-loss record in the 2026 season
- Sabalenka has a 31-6 win-loss record at the Australian Open
- Sabalenka has won 74% of matches played on hard courts
Iva Jovic
- Jovic has an 8-2 win-loss record in the 2026 season
- Jovic is making her debut at the Australian Open
- Jovic has won 70% of matches played on hard courts
Aryna Sabalenka vs Iva Jovic: Betting tips and odds
- Moneyline: Sabalenka: -580, Jovic +475
- Spread: Sabalenka -5.5 (+00), Jovic +5.5 (-119)
- Total Sets: Over 19.5 (-111), Under 20.5 (-150)
- 1st Set Winner: Sabalenka -365, Jovic +290
Match prediction
Jovic is in the midst of a Cinderella run at the 2026 Australian Open. The California native will be aware of Sabalenka’s status as the crowd favourite ahead of her match against the top seed.
Sabalenka’s advantage will be hard to ignore, despite Jovic making all the right moves. The young American keeps her opponents on her toes as a clean striker of the ball and times her approaches to the net perfectly.
The Belarusian will once again rely on her powerful serve to dictate terms. Jovic, for her part, will look to absorb the pace and extend rallies to force her rival into making unforced errors.
By capitalising on early break opportunities, the teenager has a real chance to control the momentum and score the biggest upset of the tournament. Sabalenka can expect to progress, but not without dropping a set for the first time this fortnight.
Result: Aryna Sabalenka to win in three sets.
Where and how to watch live telecast and live streaming of Aryna Sabalenka vs Iva Jovic quarter-final match at Australian Open 2026?
The quarter-final will be broadcast on the Sony Network for Indian viewers. Residents of the United States can tune in to the Tennis Channel and ESPN. Fans in the United Kingdom can stream the match on Eurosport.
For full worldwide broadcast details click here.
When and where will Aryna Sabalenka vs Iva Jovic quarter-final match take place at Australian Open 2026?
The match will be played at the Rod Laver Arena on January 27 (Tuesday) and is scheduled to begin at 11:30 am local time and 6:00 am IST in India.
Has Aryna Sabalenka and Iva Jovic faced each other before?
No, this will be their first-ever meeting on the WTA tour.
Who is the favourite to win this quarter-final match at Australian Open 2026?
Sabalenka will be the crowd favourite and her advantage will be hard to ignore, despite Jovic making all the right moves. The young American keeps her opponents on her toes as a clean striker of the ball and times her approaches to the net perfectly.
The Belarusian will once again rely on her powerful serve to dictate terms. Jovic, for her part, will look to absorb the pace and extend rallies to force her rival into making unforced errors.
By capitalising on early break opportunities, the teenager has a real chance to control the momentum and score the biggest upset of the tournament.
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Meet Fazeel—a bibliophile and sci-fi aficionado who devours books and movies alike. His favorite form of exercise? Watching tennis from a perfectly positioned couch. Whether he's lost in a gripping novel or absorbed in a five-hour Grand Slam final, he's all in. Favorite quote: “You cannot be serious” – John McEnroe.