- Aryna Sabalenka is a -640 moneyline favorite over Iva Jovic in quarterfinal action at the Australian Open
- Neither woman has dropped a set through the first four rounds
- See my Sabalenka vs Jovic predictions and picks below, plus the latest odds for the Jan 26 matchup
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka returns to center court tonight down under, in an Australian Open quarterfinal clash with American teenager Iva Jovic. Online sportsbooks are expecting another comfortable victory for the two-time Aussie Open champion, but I’m predicting Jovic is going to push her to the brink.
The action is set to get underway at 7:30 pm ET, with live coverage available on ESPN2.
Here are my Sabalenka vs Jovic predictions and picks, plus the latest odds for their Jan 26 matchup.
Sabalenka vs Jovic Predictions and Picks
I’m looking at two wagers for my Sabalenka vs Jovic predictions and picks, and both highlight the importance of having access to multiple books.
Let’s start with over 19.5 total games. FanDuel is offering this line at -112 odds, while most other shops have it priced at -130 or worse. Sabalenka enters play having gone over this line in each of her last two matches, and neither one of those opponents (Victoria Mboko and Anastasia Potapova) are playing as well as Jovic right now.
The 18-year-old has not dropped a set leading up to the quarterfinals, and has lost just 17 games through four matches. She ran over Yulia Putintseva in the Fourth Round 6-0, 6-1, winning 26 of 37 service points, and converting six of 12 break point opportunities. Jovic has won six of her eight sets by a score of 6-2 or better, with only #7 Jasmin Paolini taking more than three games off her in any set.
Iva Jovic’s 2026 Australian Open Results
The American doesn’t possess nearly the amount of power as Sabalenka, but her return game has vaulted her into contention in Australian Open odds. She’s converted 19 of 40 (47.5%) break point chances thus far, and has significantly improved her strength and aggression since we last saw her.
She’s never faced the World No. 1 to date, but this is a matchup she’s been clamoring for. Jovic has been vocal about testing herself against the best, and has been under the guidance of Novak Djokovic, the most prolific Grand Slam Champ ever, whom she shares Serbian heritage. I’m not confident she’ll be able to take down Sabalenka, but she has the tools to keep this match extremely close.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Iva Jovic Odds
Odds as of January 26th. Get in on the action betting the Australian Open with the FanDuel promo code.
Which is why I also like Jovic to cover the 5.5 game spread. FanDuel is also the offering the most favorable odds in market on that wager, posting a -118 line compared to the -130 price tag of other books.
Sabalenka’s brilliance on hardcourt is impossible to overstate. She’s won two of the last three Australian and US Opens, and made the final in the years where she fell short. She’s a deserving favorite in this match, but she’s not immune to lapses in consistency.
The World No. 1 makes far too makes far too many unforced errors in my opinion, and her serve isn’t nearly as dominant as it should be for someone with her power. She was broken six times in her last two matches alone, and in a contest against a returner of Jovic’s quality, those inconsistencies will help the American cover the spread and push this match over the games total.
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