Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

Elena Rybakina vs. Iva Jovic Head-to-Head, Preview and Prediction for the French Open 2025 Round 2

Rising talent Jovic faces tough test against in-form Rybakina

Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

The 12th seed, Elena Rybakina, is set to face qualifier Iva Jovic in the second round of the 2025 Roland Garros. Originally slated to open against Belinda Bencic, Rybakina was handed a late opponent switch after Bencic withdrew with an arm injury. The Russian-born Kazakh instead dispatched qualifier Julia Riera in straight sets. Jovic, meanwhile, earned her spot with a hard-fought three-set victory over Renata Zarazua.

Rybakina enters with momentum, having recently claimed the Strasbourg title with a gritty win over Liudmila Samsonova. A quarterfinalist in Paris last year, she’s aiming to go even deeper this time. For Jovic, this is already a career-best run at Roland Garros. The American, who turned pro in 2022, lifted her fourth ITF title in Charlottesville earlier this season but is still seeking her first WTA title.

Elena Rybakina can't hide her smile after an amazing shot 🙂
(For the memories.)
📸Youtube / rybakina fan (Posted today)#WTA pic.twitter.com/0nAuAwxhPs
— Sebastien G. (@sebsharfam2) May 27, 2025

Elena Rybakina vs. Iva Jovic Preview

Rybakina’s season has been solid, marked by a fourth-round run in Melbourne and a strong Middle East swing, reaching the quarters in Doha and semis in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. After a brief slump, she bounced back in Strasbourg, clinching the title. With a 23-9 record, she’s delivered 170 aces, won 72.9% of her first-serve points, and backed it up with 42.8% on first-serve returns and a 41.6% break point conversion, numbers that reflect her all-around dominance this season.

Back on the winner's podium 🏆🐠

Elena Rybakina picks up her 1st title of 2025 in Strasbourg!#IS25 pic.twitter.com/BYrKontmWd
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 24, 2025

Jovic has mostly competed on the ITF circuit, logging just seven WTA main-draw matches this year. Still, she holds a respectable 16-7 overall record. Her best result came at Copa Colsanitas, where she reached the last 16 before falling to Julia Riera. Her stats show promise with nine aces, a 62.1% first-serve win rate, and standout return metrics: 46% of return points won and 51.1% breakpoint conversion.

Elena Rybakina vs. Iva Jovic Head-to-Head Record

Elena Rybakina holds a 1-0 lead over Iva Jovic in their head-to-head, having cruised to a straight-sets win earlier this season in Melbourne, including a bagel in the first set. As they meet again on the big stage at Roland Garros, Rybakina will look to reinforce her dominance, but with both players showing promising form, Jovic may be ready to pose a greater challenge this time.

After all, Jovic made headlines as the youngest American last year, just 16 at the time, to win a women’s main-draw match at the US Open since 2020, upsetting Magda Linette in the first round as a wildcard. It’s a reminder of her potential, even if she faces a steep challenge against Rybakina.

Year	Event	Round	Winner	Score
2025	Australian Open	Round of 64	Elena Rybakina	6-0, 6-3

Elena Rybakina vs. Iva Jovic Comparison

Elena Rybakina	Category	Iva Jovic
11	Ranking	129
354-152	Career W-L	56-20
23-9	YTD W-L	16-7
9	Career Titles	0
1	Grand Slams	0
1	YTD Titles	0

Elena Rybakina vs. Iva Jovic Prediction

Given Rybakina’s recent title in Strasbourg and her consistent top-level performance this season, she enters as the clear favorite. While Jovic has shown promise, especially on return games, the gulf in experience and firepower should tilt this match in Rybakina’s favor.

Prediction: Elena Rybakina in straight sets

Also Read: Carlos Alcaraz vs. Fabian Marozsan Head to Head, Preview, Prediction, and Betting Odds for French Open 2025 Second Round

Elena Rybakina vs. Iva Jovic French Open 2025 Betting Odds

Here are the betting odds according to BetMGM:

Elena Rybakina: 1/16

Iva Jovic: 17/2

2025 French Open

Elena Rybakina

Iva Jovic

Rudra Dubey

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I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.