Iva Jovic has been offered some advice from Andy Roddick ahead of her Australian Open quarterfinal match.
Jovic has already been given some tips by Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open this year, where she has achieved her best result by reaching the quarterfinals.
This has included the 18-year-old’s latest victory in Melbourne, with Jovic beating Yulia Putintseva, losing just one game in the entire match.
As a result, the American teenager has now set up a meeting with the world number one, with Jovic calling Aryna Sabalenka her dream opponent ahead of the 2026 season.
Andy Roddick offers advice to Iva Jovic ahead of match vs Aryna Sabalenka
Jovic appears confident ahead of playing Sabalenka, but she will also have to be tactically astute against the two-time former Australian Open champion.
Sabalenka is yet to drop a set in Melbourne so far this year, and former world number one Roddick has revealed what he would tell Jovic if he was her coach.
“Is Sabalenka going to be able to handle switching of directions?” questioned Roddick on his ‘Served with Andy Roddick‘ podcast.
“Jovic is really good at setting up in the middle of the court. Sabalenka likes to hit two, three shots; we hear those grunts, where it gets progressively bigger as she feels like she’s making progress in the rally. Is she going to be able to do that?
“If I’m Jovic’s coach I’m going, ‘As soon as she gets one foot forward – even if it’s a little uncomfortable – try to switch directions. Especially that forehand side of Sabalenka’. The chess match in the first four or five games of that one is going to be really, really fascinating.”
While both Djokovic and Roddick have offered advice to the world number 27, Jovic’s coach is actually Briton Thomas Gutteridge.
Which American man and woman do you think will go furthest at the Australian Open?
What is Iva Jovic’s record against top 10 players?
Although Jovic has never faced Sabalenka before, she has played against top 10 players four times before.
Three of those matches have seen her face Jasmine Paolini, whom Jovic obtained her first ever top 10 win against at the Australian Open this year.
The Australian Open is the best Grand Slam… discuss!
Elena Rybakina is the other top 10 player who has beaten Jovic, having comfortably defeated the American at the Australian Open last year.
| Top 10 player Iva Jovic played | Result |
| Elena Rybakina (No.7) – Australian Open 2025 | Rybakina beat Jovic, 6-0 6-3 |
| Jasmine Paolini (No.6) – Indian Wells 2025 | Paolini beat Jovic, 7-6(3) 1-6 6-3 |
| Jasmine Paolini (No.8) – US Open 2025 | Paolini beat Jovic, 6-3 6-3 |
| Jasmine Paolini (No.8) – Australian Open 2026 | Jovic beat Paolini, 6-2 7-6(3) |
Jovic will be looking to add to her victory when she plays world number one Sabalenka for the first time at the Australian Open.
Their quarterfinal will take place in the first day session match on Rod Laver Arena on Monday, January 27.
Regardless of what happens in this match, Jovic has already confirmed that she will make her top 20 debut after the Australian Open.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
