Coco Gauff and Iva Jovic meet in one of the standout fourth‑round clashes of this year's US Open, kicking off the Monday night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Although the duo were born only four years apart, there is a big difference in their levels of Grand Slam experience.
This will be only Jovic's second Ashe night session of her career, following her dramatic three‑set win over Alexandra Eala on Saturday. Gauff, on the other hand, is a veteran of tennis' biggest stage and a former US Open champion to boot.
The 22-year-old has been surging through the draw with a revamped serve and renewed confidence on the back of her win in Cincinnati last month.
The pair met earlier this year in the fourth round of the Italian Open, where Gauff survived a scare. Jovic won the first set, held match points in the second and pushed Gauff deep before the older American steadied herself to win 7‑5 5‑7 6‑2.
But, speaking on Saturday after her 7-5 3-6 7-5 win over Eala, the 14th seed believed she would have chances to win if she maintained her form.
Meanwhile, Gauff's comeback from a break down against Cristina Bucsa in round three prompted her to say she had "hit flow state", a sign of her growing comfort on hard courts.
Iva Jovic v Coco Gauff Tips Summary
Best Bet - Coco Gauff -3.5 games @ 8/11
Alternative Bet - Coco Gauff to win & Over 20.5 games @ 7/5
Bet Builder - Coco Gauff 5+ double faults; 1st set over 10.5 games & Coco Gauff - 2nd set winner @ 27/4
Iva Jovic v Coco Gauff Prediction
Best Bet: Coco Gauff -3.5 games @ 8/11
Many felt Gauff's breakthrough Grand Slam win in New York three years ago would lead to considerably more than the just one French Open title she has added since.
Her attempts to repeat that 2023 Flushing Meadows victory have ended in the fourth round in each of the last two years, but this time she has turned up with a vastly improved serve and a cleaner, more aggressive baseline game.
A trio of straight-set wins in the first week means she has spent significantly less time on court than Jovic.
And her relative freshness could make a difference against an 18-year-old opponent coming off an intense three‑set match that lasted nearly the entire evening on Saturday.
Jovic's win over Eala was impressive, highlighted by her hitting 44 winners to 27 unforced errors, but it may have taken a physical toll. Asking her to replicate that level against a top‑five opponent less than 48 hours later is a tall order.
Gauff proved too strong for the teenager when they met on a clay court in Rome in May. She powered clear to clinch the deciding set 6-2 and cover a -3.5-game handicap that day.
It seems more likely than not that, if she maintains her current levels, she can ease to a similar-margin win on Monday.
Alternative Bet: Coco Gauff to win & Over 20.5 games @ 7/5
Their Rome meeting lasted three sets and featured a total of 32 games. The conditions in New York are very different and may lead to a shorter contest, but there remains a strong possibility that it requires another decider.
Even if it doesn't, Jovic's recent hard court results suggest over 20 games could be on the cards.
Three of the teenager's last four matches have featured 21 games or more and the one that didn't was concluded in exactly 20.
Gauff is a worthy favourite because of her form, confidence and experience, while Jovic's heavy workload on Saturday - combined with her tendency to fade slightly in late‑set exchanges - could see her just fall short.
Iva Jovic v Coco Gauff Bet Builder
Coco Gauff 5+ double faults
1st Set over 10.5 games
Coco Gauff - 2nd set winner
Pays 27/4
Gauff's serve has improved, but her double fault totals are not yet fully under control. She served six doubles against Bucsa in round three and could produce five or more again on Monday.
The first set could be a nervy affair and it would be no surprise to see multiple breaks, with the potential for it to extend beyond 10 games if neither player can capitalise on their own serve.
Finally, add Gauff to win the second set to this Bet Builder. The 22-year-old has won the second set in nine consecutive matches and has not dropped a set since her first match in Cincinnati almost a month ago.
Key Match Stats
Coco Gauff leads the head‑to‑head 1–0 (Rome 2026)
Gauff has not dropped a set at the US Open so far this year
Iva Jovic played a gruelling three‑set night match on Saturday
Gauff is on a nine-match win streak after taking the Cincinnati title last month
Jovic reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final at the 2026 Australian Open
Gauff had made it to the last eight in seven of the last 12 Grand Slams
Read more tennis betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
