Iva Jovic vs Alexandra Eala Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Jovic to advance at Roland Garros

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Tue 26 May 2026 01:13

Andrew Hendrie 26 May 2026

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Iva Jovic vs Alexandra Eala predictions for Tuesday's French Open R1 match
Jovic in solid form, with last eight wins coming in straight sets
Eala not at her best on clay, has lost last three matches vs top 20 players
The match is scheduled to start at 7.00pm AEST on Tuesday May 26

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Iva Jovic (Photo by Getty Images)

Iva Jovic vs Alexandra Eala Tips, Prediction & Live Stream

It's a battle of rising stars as Iva Jovic and Alexandra Eala square off in the French Open first round on Tuesday.

Iva Jovic vs Alexandra Eala Tips, Prediction & Live Stream
Jovic vs Eala Stats & Trends
Jovic vs Eala Head To Head
Iva Jovic Form Analysis
Alexandra Eala Form Analysis
Jovic vs Eala Live Stream

Jovic has surged into the world's top 20 at just 18 years of age and looks every bit a future major winner, while 21-year-old Eala is arguably the most popular tennis player on the planet with a massive Filipino fanbase present at every match she plays.

It sets up what should be a fun opening round contest in Paris in what is the pair's first career meeting.

Eala might be able to push for the upset on hardcourt or grass, but she's struggled on clay so far in her career and I think Jovic should be able to close this out in relatively routine fashion.

Jovic recently made the fourth round in Rome and was on the verge of knocking out reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff before getting tight. When the American wins, she usually does so in straight sets, so that's the best bet for this clash.

Jovic vs Eala Stats & Trends

Jovic's last eight wins have come in straight sets
Eala's last nine defeats have come in straight sets
Eala has a 1-3 record in Grand Slam R1 matches
Jovic has a 5-1 record in Grand Slam R1 matches
Eala has lost her last three matches vs top 20 players

Jovic vs Eala Head To Head

This will be the first meeting between the pair.

Iva Jovic Form Analysis

2026 Record: 21-11
French Open Record: 1-1
Current Ranking: No. 17
Career-High Ranking: No. 16 (March 2026)

It's been a swift rise for Jovic, who is one spot off her career-high ranking of No. 16 coming into this contest.

After making an impact in her first full season on tour last year, Jovic has proven she's here to stay, starting the year strongly with a final in Hobart, semi-final in Auckland and quarter-final run at the Australian Open.

The 18-year-old has also enjoyed some solid results on clay, making the semi-finals of Charleston and the R16 in Rome, where she couldn't convert match points in a three-set defeat to Coco Gauff.

Jovic most recently went down to eventual champion Emma Navarro in the first round of Strasbourg last week. This will be her second appearance at Roland Garros after she was toppled by Elena Rybakina in the second round last year.

Alexandra Eala Form Analysis

2026 Record: 16-12
French Open Record: 0-1
Current Ranking: No. 37
Career-High Ranking: No. 29 (March 2026)

Eala has also experienced a meteoric rise to stardom on tour, but unlike Jovic, she's finding it a bit harder to make that next push higher in the rankings.

However, the 21-year-old is proving very consistent - she also made the Auckland semi-finals before quarter-finals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, along with R16 finishes at Indian Wells and Miami.

It's clear Eala is most at home on hardcourt - her record since transitioning to clay hasn't been great, winning just four matches across five tournaments.

Eala also went down in the first round of Strasbourg last week to Oleksandra Oliynykova.