Match Details
Fixture: (1) Aryna Sabalenka vs (29) Iva Jovic
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Date: January 27, 2026
Tournament: Australian Open
Round: Quarterfinal
Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: A$111,500,000
Live Telecast: USA – ESPN, Tennis Channel | UK – TNT Sports | Canada – TSN, RDS
Aryna Sabalenka vs Iva Jovic preview
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka will take on Iva Jovic in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open 2026.
Sabalenka ousted Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, Bai Zhuoxuan, and Anastasia Potapova, all in straight sets, to reach the fourth round. She was up against teen star Victoria Mboko for a spot in the quarterfinals. The World No. 1 was at her dominant best in the first set, claiming it for the loss of only one game.
It looked like the match would be over in no time after Sabalenka secured a double break lead in the second set. However, Mboko had other ideas. She retrieved one of the breaks to keep herself in contention.
Mboko’s perseverance was rewarded when she stopped Sabalenka from serving out the contest at 5-4, even saving three match points in the process. The four-time Major champion quelled the youngster’s challenge in the ensuing tie-break to register a 6-1, 7-6 (1) win.
Jovic beat Katie Volynets, Priscilla Hon, and Jasmine Paolini in straight sets to reach the fourth round, where she was up against Yulia Putintseva. The American teenager was all over her opponent from start to finish, conceding only one game throughout the match to score a 6-0, 6-1 win in just 53 minutes.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Iva Jovic head-to-head
This will be the first career meeting between them, so the head-to-head stands at 0-0 for now.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Iva Jovic odds
(Odds via BetMGM)
Aryna Sabalenka vs Iva Jovic prediction
Sabalenka nipped Mboko’s comeback in the bud to maintain her perfect start to the season, extending her winning streak to nine matches. She has won all of her matches in straight sets this year. She also improved her record in Australia since the start of 2023 to 42-2.
18-year-old Jovic played her best match of the season to demolish Putintseva. She’s through to her maiden Major quarterfinal, and the first of many. She hasn’t lost a set during the tournament, and improved her record for the season to 11-2.
Two of the tour’s most in-form players are set to collide. Sabalenka’s mid-match lapses are concerning, having lost a double break lead in the second set in her last two matches, though she eventually had the last laugh in the tie-break. She has now won 20 consecutive tie-breaks at the Majors, surpassing Novak Djokovic‘s record of 19 tie-breaks won.
After getting the better of one teen prodigy, Sabalenka will now have to deal with another one. While Jovic has the game to challenge the top seed, she will still be the underdog in this contest, especially in light of Sabalenka’s current form and record in Australia.
Pick: Aryna Sabalenka to win in straight sets.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Iva Jovic betting tips
Tip 1: The match will have at least 20 games.
Tip 2: There will be at least one tie-break.
Edited by Rohit
