Coco Gauff looks unstoppable in Riyadh! She hasn’t yet dropped a set in this tournament and has already secured a spot in the SF. Next up for the American is the Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejčíková. A win in this match would help her avoid a potential matchup with the current world number one, Aryna Sabalenka. On the other hand, Krejcikova needs to secure a victory in this match in order to make progress to the SF. Who is the favorite to win this enticing encounter?

Coco Gauff vs Barbora Krejčíková: Preview

Coco Gauff’s season has been a mix of good and bad so far. Although she has won two titles this season (the ASB Classic and the China Open), she has struggled a bit to make an impact. However, in Riyadh, she has been in supreme touch!

Coco Gauff defeated her compatriot Jessica Pegula in her first group stage match by a 6-3,6-2 margin. Then, in the next one, she secured a big win over the Polish superstar, Iga Swiatek. Gauff defeated Swiatek by 6-3,6-4.

Barbora Krejčíková, on the other hand, hasn’t had any noteworthy performances this season apart from her heroics at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. She defeated Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the final by 6-2,2-6,6-4, securing the grass Grand Slam.

At the WTA Finals, Krejcikova started her campaign with a defeat against Iga Swiatek. However, in the next match, she came back strongly and outclassed Jessica Pegula by 6-3,6-3.

Gauff vs Krejcikova: Head-to-Head

So far, Coco Gauff and Barbora Krejčíková have met each other once in their careers. It was way back in 2021! However, interestingly, the Czech star leads the H2H scoreline against Gauff by 1-0.

• 2021 French Open QF: Krejcikova 7-6(6),6-3.

Prediction: Gauff to win in three sets

Looking at Coco Gauff’s form in this tournament, I’m expecting the American to end this epic contest in flying colors. However, since it’s a do-or-die match for Barbora Krejčíková, I feel this match has all the possibilities of going a little deeper.

Barbora Krejčíková has an aggressive style of play, and she’s known for her powerful groundstrokes and venomous serves. Krejcikova has a unique ability to inject sudden pace during the rallies and also has a decent net game. Her two-handed backhand shots can cause a few troubles for Gauff in this match. Apart from that, even her forehand and drop shots have the capability to earn a few points against some strong opponents like Coco Gauff. So, I’m expecting her to put up some real challenge against the American.

Now, if we take a look at Gauff’s playing style, well, the American describes her playing style as aggressive, but fans have often seen her taking up a defensive approach in her matches. She has a lethal forehand and a strong serve in her armory. However, the biggest concern for Coco Gauff throughout the season has been her accuracy in the serves. She has hit 228 aces this season but has committed 407 double faults. Although, she started her campaign in Riyadh pretty well by committing just 2 double faults in her first match, however in the next match she committed 11 double faults! So, she needs to keep a check on this in her third match.

Coco Gauff’s incredible athleticism and swift court coverage make her a real special player on the tour. She can also confuse her opponents by bringing variations in her game. Gauff also has a unique ability to come out on top in most situations during longer rallies. So, if the match goes deep, the American superstar has more chances of bringing out a favorable result from this battle!