Iva Jovic meets Cori Gauff in the US Open Round of 16 on September 7, 2026 at 23:00 UTC. Gauff owns the steadier hard-court form, but the line asks for more than a routine win.
Jovic’s timing meets Gauff’s reach
Jovic arrives after beating No. 18 Alexandra Eala 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, recovering from 4-2 down in the deciding set with controlled aggression. Recovery from that three-hour match is the clear risk, although no injury was reported.
Gauff has not dropped a set since the opening round in Cincinnati, and her 6-3, 6-4 win over Cristina Bucsa showed she can progress without finding clean rhythm. Still, Bucsa’s changes of pace unsettled her, while occasional double-fault clusters remain an invitation for an early returner.
Three and a half games leave room for resistance
Jovic takes the ball early and can direct hard, deep shots into Gauff’s forehand before the favourite settles behind her movement. She will need patience because Gauff retrieves the first apparent winner with tedious regularity, but this is a workable hard-court pattern.
In Rome, Jovic led by a set and served for the match before losing five consecutive games. That collapse matters more in the outright market than it does with a 3.5-game cushion; a 7-5 set, a tiebreak or split sets would all put the handicap in a strong position.
Prediction: Iva Jovic +3.5 games, odds 2.09
