Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA US Open match.
Coco Gauff enters this clash as the overwhelming favourite, yet her serve has been shaky of late — opening the door for Ajla Tomljanović to prove that, even in the twilight of her career, she can still compete respectably and keep the scoreline respectable.
Ajla Tomljanović
Tomljanović has built a reputation for springing surprise wins at Grand Slams, but consistency has faded. Her recent record is negative (4-6 in her last 10 matches), with defeats even to lower-ranked opponents. Her strengths remain her size and a powerful serve that helps maintain rhythm on hard courts. However, Ajla often overloads her game with risk, producing too many unforced errors and showing fragility from the baseline. The only previous head-to-head with Gauff ended in a one-sided defeat, but Tomljanović now looks slightly sharper — fewer errors and more stability on serve. She averages around 10 aces per match, and when the first serve lands, she holds games effectively.
Coco Gauff
Ranked inside the world’s top 3, Gauff is enjoying another standout season highlighted by her Roland Garros title. Her hard-court form is solid — six wins from her last 10 matches — but her serve remains a concern. Double faults have crept up, offering opponents chances to pounce. Her greatest strengths are her speed, elite defence, transition play, and strong return game. While less dominant on hard courts than clay, her class, athleticism and relentless pressure usually cover the cracks. Even with serve issues, Coco often grinds down opponents through long rallies and sustained aggression.
Ajla Tomljanović vs Coco Gauff Prediction
The gulf in class is clear, though a repeat of their previous lopsided meeting looks unlikely. Gauff should progress, but Tomljanović’s serve and experience on hard courts should keep the scoreline within range. Expect the Australian to hold her share of service games and put up resistance.
