Wildcard entrant Iva Jovic picked up a first-round win and the 389th-ranked American will get a crack at Ekaterina Alexandrova in the second round of the US Open. 

As a +225 underdog, the 16-year-old Los Angeles native claimed her first Major Tournament win over Magda Linette in straight sets to land in the second round.

Alexandrova reached the first round at the US Major for the first time last year but it took nine years of struggling to get out of the second round for the -260 favorite.

EJ Garr’s Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Iva Jovic prediction leans on the foreigner to excel in New York and you can check out his -110 offer for the match below.

For more expert tennis predictions, visit Expert Insights!

Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Iva Jovic Prediction: SURPRISE! Underdogs Bark Big in NY

• Prediction: Iva Jovic +4.5 Games Handicap
• Best Odds: -120
• Bookmaker: Pinnacle
• Stakes: 3/10

Odds updated at 7:00 am UK Time on August 28,  2024. 

How impressive was that outing for Iva Jovic at her first Major Tournament as a 16-year-old? It’s tough to deny that performance albeit against a struggling Magda Linette. 

With almost exact odds as her first-round outing, Jovic is listed at +225 to get past Alexandrova with the upset special. That’s a respectful line for a player making her Major debut in the second round on this stage. This is New York, baby! The lights are so damn bright at the Billie Jean King complex you have no idea and trust me, I LIVE HERE! And I mean the spotlight on everyone in this event because there are only four chances a year to make big impressions (Along with some big money), so expectations are hard to fulfill when the stakes are this high.

Jovic has already competed at all four Major Tournament venues this season but the first three entries were in the Girls’ event in Australia, Paris, and London.

Alexandrova is playing her 10th US Open and didn’t reach the third round in New York until last season although this is her 6th consecutive second-round appearance at the Major.

Jovic didn’t smack a single ace against Linette but broke the Pole 4 times and held her service game in check with only one break to pick up her first top-50 scalp. 

Scalp #2 might be on the way but I’ll take those +4.5 and put them in my pocket despite the -120 offer from Pinnacle with marginal juice.

EKATERINA ALEXANDROVA RECENT FORM

Alexandrova is ranked 31st on the WTA Tour and she’ll be playing doubles at the Major with Blinkova tomorrow. 

Kat is trying to keep her head above water with a 21 – 20 record in 2024 and the clay season couldn’t get over quickly enough (1 – 7).

Alexandrova hasn’t had a losing record on the WTA Tour for 11 straight campaigns dating back to 2013.

IVA JOVIC RECENT FORM

What do underdogs do? THEY BITE! The US Open is no stranger to big upsets and this could be one of the biggest we see so far in New York. Jovic handled her business against a top-50 player to pick up a win at a Major Tournament… At 16! Hella-impressive and I hope the New York crowd gets behind her and they will!

Jovic is 9 – 3 on clay and 4 – 1 on grass this season and to keep her hardcourt record above water she’ll need to win this outing (5 – 4). Quite a tall order for the youngster so let’s see how she handles the pressure… again!

ALEXANDROVA VS JOVIC H2H –  STAT OF THE MATCH

As you would expect this is the first meeting between Alexandrova and Jovic and it comes at the last Major of the 2024 campaign.

Aryna Sabalenka will likely be waiting for Alexandrova or Jovic in the third round.

SAFER GAMBLING

At bettingexpert, we always take a safe approach to gambling. We’ll never bet more than we can afford or chase losses. For more advice, head to our Safer Gambling hub.