WTA Italian Open 2021: Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff–Preview, Head to Head and Prediction


WTA Italian Open 2021: Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff–Preview, Head to Head and Prediction

Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff

Aryna Sabalenka will take on Coco Gauff in the Third round of the Italian Open 2021. Sabalenka  is currently the World No.4 on the WTA rankings and Gauff is the World No.35.  

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Match Details

  • Tournament: WTA Italian Open
  • Match: Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff
  • Round: Third Round
  • Date: 13th May, 2021
  • Prize Money: €16,935
  • Venue: Rome, Italy
  • Surface: Clay Court

Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff: Match Preview

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka, the new World No.4, is flying high post her Madrid Open triumph. Putting the misery of a defeat in the Final of the Stuttgart Open behind her, Sabalenka showed extreme patience and fearlessness to win the Madrid title. What made it even more special for Sabalenka was that she beat Ash Barty to win the trophy.

Having started the clay court swing remarkably well, Sabalenka has now set her sights on the Italian Open. She received a bye in the first round of the tournament, and in the second she overcame Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain, 7-5 6-1. In the third round she will face the seventeen year old American Coco Gauff.

Gauff started her clay court swing with the Charleston Open, where she made it to  the  Quarter-finals of the event. At the Madrid Open, Gauff lost in the first round to Karolina Pliskova. In Rome so far, she has beaten Yulia Putintseva in the first round, in three sets 7-5 4-6 6-4, and impressed one and all by taking down the Greek woman Maria Sakkari in the second. Gauff won in three sets 6-1 1-6 6-1. 

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Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff: Head-to-Head

Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff

These two players have met twice on the tour before, and the head to head stands at 1-1. The last encounter between the two was at the Ostrava Open in 2020 which Sabalenka won in three sets 1-6 7-5 7-6.  

Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff: Prediction

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka

Sabalenka is a powerful striker of the ball, who has developed her already potent game to suit the slow surfaces that clay courts offer. Her serve even though she faltered a bit against Tormo, remains world class, and so does her athletic ability on the court.

Gauff served brilliantly and hit winners by the dozen in her match against Sakkari. The seventeen year old put on a display of amazing speed and power. But she will come up against arguably the best in-form player on tour right now. Sabalenka is too strong for Gauff at the moment. 

Match Prediction: Aryna Sabalenka will beat Coco Gauff in straight sets. 

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