For other people with the similar name, see Sabanov (disambiguation).
Ivan Sabanov
Country(2010–2021)
(2021–present)
ResidencePalić, Serbia
Birth date25 June 1992 (age 34)
Birth placeSubotica, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia
Height1.78 m
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
CareerprizemoneyUS $270,121
Singlestitles0
0 Challenger, 0 Futures
HighestsinglesrankingNo. 907 (25 August 2014)
Doublestitles1
5 Challenger, 26 Futures
HighestdoublesrankingNo. 75 (18 April 2022)
CurrentdoublesrankingNo. 191 (24 February 2025)
Australianopendoublesresult1R (2022, 2023)
Wimbledondoublesresult1R (2021)
Updated26 February 2025

Ivan Sabanov (Sr-cyrl: Иван Сабанов; born 25 June 1992) is a Serbian tennis player who specializes in doubles. He has a career high ATP doubles ranking of World No. 75 achieved on 18 April 2022. He also has a career high ATP singles ranking of World No. 907 achieved on 25 August 2014.[1]

He has won one ATP doubles title with his twin brother Matej, and 5 ATP Challengers and 26 ITF doubles titles.[2] Sabanov formerly represented Croatia.[3]

Early life and career

Ivan and Matej Sabanov are twin brothers born in Subotica, a city that was part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia at the time, near the Croatian and Hungarian borders. They began playing tennis at the age of five or six and grew up competing alongside Serbian players such as Filip Krajinović and Dušan Lajović. Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia, Subotica became part of Serbia and Montenegro in 2003 and later Serbia in 2006.[4]

At the age of 15, the twins moved to Osijek, Croatia, where their mother worked as a teacher. The move provided them with access to indoor courts, which were unavailable in Subotica. Around that time, they chose to represent Croatia in their professional careers. However, after their mother’s retirement, the family returned to Palić, near their hometown of Subotica.[3]

During this period, they received strong support from Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic, who closely followed their progress and allowed them to train at his Belgrade academy free of charge. They remained closely connected to Serbian players they had grown up with, and in November 2021, they announced their decision to switch national representation to Serbia. Reports suggested that the move was partly influenced by their ambition to compete in doubles for Serbia in the Davis Cup and ATP Cup, as Croatia already had an established doubles team featuring players like Mate Pavić, Nikola Mektić, and Ivan Dodig.[4][3]

Professional career

Sabanov made his ATP main draw debut at the 2018 Croatia Open Umag in the doubles draw as a wildcard pair partnering his twin brother Matej.[5]

His best career performance came in 2021 when he won his first ATP doubles title by winning Serbia Open with his brother Matej. They defeated Gonzalo Escobar and Ariel Behar in the final.[6][7]

In the last edition of the ATP Cup in 2022, Sabanov served as the captain of the Serbian team, which was eliminated in the group stage with one win and two losses.[8]

He was part of Serbia's squad for the 2025 Davis Cup Qualifiers first round tie against Denmark in Copenhagen but did not feature in any matches.[9]

ATP career finals

Doubles: 2 (1 title, 1 runners-up)

Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
ATP Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP Tour Masters 1000 (0–0)
ATP Tour 500 Series (0–0)
ATP Tour 250 Series (1–1)
Titles by surface
Hard (0–0)
Clay (1–1)
Grass (0–0)
Titles by setting
Outdoor (1–1)
Indoor (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0Apr 2021Serbia Open, Serbia250 SeriesClayMatej SabanovAriel Behar
Gonzalo Escobar		6–3, 7–6(7–5)
Loss1–1Apr 2022U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships, United States250 SeriesClayMatej SabanovMatthew Ebden
Max Purcell		3–6, 3–6

ATP Challenger and ITF Futures Finals

Doubles: 69 (31–38)

Legend
ATP Challenger (5–14)
ITF Futures (26–24)
Finals by surface
Hard (7–10)
Clay (24–28)
Grass (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1Feb 2012Croatia F2, ZagrebFuturesHardMatej SabanovFlorin Mergea
Andrei Dăescu		6–4, 4–6, [4–10]
Loss0–2Jul 2013Serbia F5, BelgradeFuturesClayMatej SabanovDjordje Djokovic
Matthew Short		5–7, 3–6
Win1–2Aug 2013Serbia F7, SomborFuturesClayMatej SabanovDinko Halachev
Gleb Sakharov		4–6, 7–5, [10–5]
Loss1–3Aug 2013Serbia F9, Novi SadFuturesClayMatej SabanovPatrik Fabian
Matteo Fago		5–7, 3–6
Loss1–4Aug 2013Croatia F8, VinkovciFuturesClayMatej SabanovToni Androić
Tomislav Draganja		6–1, 6–7(7–9), [8–10]
Loss1–5Nov 2013Croatia F14, UmagFuturesClayMatej SabanovDino Marcan
Antonio Šančić		0–6, 7–5, [2–10]
Win2–5Aug 2014Serbia F7, SomborFuturesClayMatej SabanovAlexis Musialek
Gavin Van Peperzeel		7–6(7–5), 6–1
Loss2–6Aug 2014Serbia F9, Novi SadFuturesClayMatej SabanovDanilo Petrović
Ilija Vucic		4–6, 3–6
Win3–6Aug 2014Serbia F10, Novi SadFuturesClayMatej SabanovDanilo Petrović
Ilija Vucic		6–3, 3–6, [10–6]
Win4–6Sep 2014Serbia F13, NišFuturesClayMatej SabanovDimitar Grabul
Tomis lavJotovski		6–4, 6–2
Win5–6Sep 2014Serbia F14, SokobanjaFuturesClayMatej SabanovGeorgyi Malyshev
Marcel Waloch		6–2, 6–2
Loss5–7Nov 2014Norway F1, OsloFuturesHardMatej SabanovPatrik Rosenholm
Darren Walsh		4–6, 6–3, [8–10]
Win6–7Nov 2014Norway F2, OsloFuturesHardMatej SabanovSander Arends
Darren Walsh		4–6, 6–3, [10–4]
Win7–7Mar 2015Croatia F5, PulaFuturesClayMatej SabanovZdeněk Kolář
Dominik Suc		4–6, 6–0, [10–7]
Win8–7Apr 2015Croatia F7, VrsarFuturesClayMatej SabanovTomislav Draganja
Alexandru-Daniel Carpen		6–7(3–7), 6–4, [10–8]
Loss8–8May 2015Croatia F8, BolFuturesClayMatej SabanovGrégoire Barrère
Jérôme Inzerillo		6–4, 5–7, [6–10]
Win9–8May 2015Bosnia & Herzegovina F2, PrijedorFuturesClayMatej SabanovDanylo Kalenichenko
Juraj Masar		walkover
Loss9–9May 2015Bosnia & Herzegovina F3, BrčkoFuturesClayMatej SabanovVictor Vlad Cornea
Tudor Cristian Sulea		2–6, 4–6,
Loss9–10Jul 2015Serbia F4, BelgradeFuturesClayMatej SabanovIvan Bjelica
Tomislav Draganja		5–7, 6–7(3–7)
Win10–10Aug 2015Serbia F7, SomborFuturesClayMatej SabanovNerman Fatić
Miki Janković		6–4, 6–0
Win11–10Aug 2015Serbia F9, Novi SadFuturesClayMatej SabanovLuca Pancaldi
Fabio Mercuri		6–3, 6–0
Loss11–11Aug 2015Serbia F10, SuboticaFuturesClayMatej SabanovMarco Bortolotti
Pietro Rondoni		6–1, 2–6, [8–10]
Win12–11Oct 2015Norway F1, OsloFuturesHardMatej SabanovScott Griekspoor
Tallon Griekspoor		6–3, 6–4
Loss12–12Nov 2015Norway F2, OsloFuturesHardMatej SabanovJoran Vliegen
Sander Gillé		7–6(7–4), 6–7(5–7), [8–10]
Loss12–13Nov 2015Norway F3, OsloFuturesHardMatej SabanovJoran Vliegen
Sander Gillé		6–7(3–7), 1–6
Loss12–14Mar 2016Croatia F4, OpatijaFuturesClayMatej SabanovTomislav Draganja
Nino Serdarušić		4–6, 6–7(10–12)
Loss12–15Jun 2016Bosnia & Herzegovina F4, SarajevoFuturesClayMatej SabanovTomislav Draganja
Nino Serdarušić		5–7, 3–6
Win13–15Feb 2017Turkey F6, AntalyaFuturesHardMatej SabanovVadym Ursu
Volodymyr Uzhylovskyi		4–6, 6–0, [12–10]
Win14–15Feb 2017Turkey F7, AntalyaFuturesHardMatej SabanovVadym Ursu
Volodymyr Uzhylovskyi		7–6(7–4), 6–2
Loss14–16Mar 2017Croatia F2, PorečFuturesClayMatej SabanovZdeněk Kolář
Nino Serdarušić		3–6, 3–6
Win15–16Jun 2017Hungary F5, BudapestFuturesClayMatej SabanovMaximilian Neuchrist
David Pichler		6–4, 7–6(7–2)
Loss15–17Jul 2017Czech Republic F5, PardubiceFuturesClayMatej SabanovVit Kopriva
Jaroslav Pospíšil		6–4, 1–6, [2–10]
Loss15–18Aug 2017Serbia F2, Novi SadFuturesClayMatej SabanovScott Puodziunas
Dane Propoggia		6–7(8–10), 7–5, [9–11]
Win16–18Sep 2017Serbia F4, ZlatiborFuturesClayDarko JandricAlexander Babanine
Jeremy Beale		6–4, 6–2
Win17–18Sep 2017Serbia F5, Novi SadFuturesClayDomagoj BiljeskoJulian Bradley
Nathan Pasha		0–6, 6–2, [10–3]
Win18–18Oct 2017Nigeria F4, LagosFuturesHardMatej SabanovTom Jomby
Johan Sebastien Tatlot		4–6, 7–5, [10–5]
Win19–18Oct 2017Nigeria F5, LagosFuturesHardMatej SabanovChandril Sood
Lakshit Sood		6–3, 6–4
Loss19–19Nov 2017Bangalore, IndiaChallengerHardMatej SabanovMikhail Elgin
Divij Sharan		3–6, 0–6
Win20–19Mar 2018Croatia F1, RovinjFuturesClayMatej SabanovJavier Barranco Cosano
Marco Bortolotti		6–4, 6–3
Loss20–20Mar 2018Croatia F2, PorečFuturesClayMatej SabanovGonzalo Escobar
Bruno Sant'Anna		4–6, 7–5, [9–11]
Win21–20Sep 2018Serbia F4, SuboticaFuturesClayMatej SabanovVit Kopriva
Jaroslav Pospíšil		6–2, 6–1
Win22–20Jan 2019M15 Antalya, TurkeyWorld Tennis TourClayMatej SabanovSarp Ağabigün
Nicolae Frunză		6–1, 7–5
Win23–20Feb 2019M15 Antalya, TurkeyWorld Tennis TourClayMatej SabanovDamien Wenger
Louroi Martinez		6–1, 6–1
Loss23–21Feb 2019M25 Aktobe, KazakhstanWorld Tennis TourHardMatej SabanovNiels Lootsma
Aleksandr Vasilenko		2–6, 6–7(5–7)
Loss23–22Mar 2019M15 Rovinj, CroatiaWorld Tennis TourClayMatej SabanovMarkus Eriksson
Jeroen Vanneste		5–7, 2–6
Win24–22Mar 2019M15 Opatija, CroatiaWorld Tennis TourClayMatej SabanovOndrej Krstev
Robin Stanek		6–1, 6–4
Loss24–23Apr 2019M25 Pula, ItalyWorld Tennis TourClayMatej SabanovMarco Bortolotti
Scott Puodziunas		2–6, 4–6
Loss24–24May 2019M25+H Jablonec, Czech RepublicWorld Tennis TourClayMatej SabanovVáclav Šafránek
Jan Šátral		6–7(4–7), 6–0, [8–10]
Win25–24Jul 2019M25 Casinalbo, ItalyWorld Tennis TourClayMatej SabanovSadio Doumbia
Kirill Kivattsev		6–7(6–8), 6–3, [10–7]
Win26–24Jul 2019San Benedetto, ItalyChallengerClayMatej SabanovSergio Galdós
Juan Pablo Varillas		6–4, 4–6, [10–5]
Win27–24Jul 2019M25+H Pontedera, ItalyWorld Tennis TourClayMatej SabanovAdam Taylor
Jason Taylor		7–6(7–5), 6–2
Loss27–25Aug 2019Augsburg, GermanyChallengerClayMatej SabanovAndrei Vasilevski
Igor Zelenay		6–4, 4–6, [3–10]
Loss27–26Sep 2019M25 Győr, HungaryWorld Tennis TourClayMatej SabanovDiego Hidalgo
Pedro Sakamoto		4–6, 1–6
Loss27–27Sep 2019Sibiu, RomaniaChallengerClayMatej SabanovSadio Doumbia
Fabien Reboul		4–6, 6–3, [7–10]
Loss27–28Feb 2020Quimper, FranceChallengerHardMatej SabanovAndrey Golubev
Aleksandr Nedovyesov		4–6, 2–6
Loss27–29Nov 2020Ortisei, ItalyChallengerHardMatej SabanovAndre Begemann
Albano Olivetti		3–6, 2–6
Loss27–30May 2021Prague, Czech RepublicChallengerClayMatej SabanovMarc Polmans
Sergiy Stakhovsky		3–6, 4–6
Loss27–31Jul 2021Braunschweig, GermanyChallengerClayMatej SabanovSzymon Walków
Jan Zieliński		4–6, 6–4, [4–10]
Win28–31Aug 2021Lüdenscheid, GermanyChallengerClayMatej SabanovDenys Molchanov
Aleksandr Nedovyesov		6–4, 2–6, [12–10]
Loss28–32Sep 2021Banja Luka, Bosnia & HerzegovinaChallengerClayMatej SabanovAntonio Šančić
Nino Serdarušić		3–6, 3–6
Loss28–33Mar 2022Roseto degli Abruzzi, ItalyChallengerClayMatej SabanovFranco Agamenone
Manuel Guinard		6–7(2–7), 6–7(3–7)
Loss28–34Aug 2022Cordenons, ItalyChallengerClayMatej SabanovDustin Brown
Andrea Vavassori		4–6, 5–7
Loss28–35Aug 2022San Marino, San MarinoChallengerClayMatej SabanovMarco Bortolotti
Sergio Martos Gornés		4–6, 4–6
Win29–35Sep 2022Sibiu, RomaniaChallengerClayMatej SabanovAlexander Erler
Lucas Miedler		3–6, 7–5, [10–4]
Loss29–36Nov 2022Valencia, SpainChallengerHardMatej SabanovOleksii Krutykh
Oriol Roca Batalla		3–6, 6–7(3–7)
Win30–36Mar 2023Waco, USChallengerHardMatej SabanovEvan King
Mitchell Krueger		6–1, 3–6, [10–4]
Loss30–37Mar 2023Zadar, CroatiaChallengerClayMatej SabanovManuel Guinard
Nino Serdarušić		4–6, 0–6
Loss30–38Oct 2023Olbia, ItalyChallengerHardMatej SabanovRithvik Choudary Bollipalli
Arjun Kadhe		1–6, 3–6
Win31–38Aug 2024Todi, ItalyChallengerClayMatej SabanovFilip Bergevi
Mick Veldheer		6–4, 7–6(7–3)

References

  1. ^ "Doubles ranking Serbia". atptour.com
  2. ^ "Meet the Sabanov Brothers". anamitric.net
  3. ^ Dimitrijević, Miodrag (17 November 2021). "Ko su braća Sabanov, zbog Novaka umesto Hrvatske izabrali Srbiju" [Who are the Sabanov brothers, they chose Serbia instead of Croatia because of Novak] (in bs). nova.rs
  4. ^ "Braća Sabanov postala Srbi, motiv im je igrati s Đokovićem u Davisovu kupu" (in Croatian). vecernji.hr
  5. ^ "Croatia Open: Tournament history - 2018 Draw". croatiaopen.hr
  6. ^ "Ivan and Matej Sabanov are this year's winners in the doubles Serbia Open 2021!#SerbiaOpen #SerbiaOpen2021". No. 1385973764094103552. 24 April 2021.
  7. ^ "ATP Doubles: Ivan Sabanov, Matej Sabanov win inaugural Serbia Open". tennisworldusa.org. 25 April 2024.
  8. ^ Marinković, Bojan (3 January 2022). "Selektor razočaran i ponosan: Momci su dali 100 odsto" [Coach disappointed and proud: The boys gave 100 percent] (in bs). sportklub.n1info.rs
  9. ^ "Srbija oslabljena u Danskoj" [Serbia weakened in Denmark] (in bs). teniskisavez.com. Tennis Federation of Serbia