Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Australian Open match.
Gauff is in sensational form, having clinched a major title in Beijing and the season finale in Riyadh. On the other hand, Badosa, making her first appearance in the Melbourne quarter-finals, is showcasing the best hardcourt play of her career. The Spaniard will strive to mount a challenge as she competes for a spot in the semi-finals.
Coco Gauff
Gauff is on an 11-match winning streak, during which she's dropped only two sets. However, her match against Belinda Bencic revealed some imperfections in the American’s game. In the first set, Coco faced six break points, won just 31% of points on her second serve, and committed three double faults, resulting in a loss (5:7). Nonetheless, in the second and third sets, Gauff regrouped: the Swiss player earned no break points, and Gauff won 12 of the next 15 games. It's worth noting that such fluctuations are not uncommon for Coco—four out of her last five matches against European opponents have seen a protracted first set (exceeding nine games).
Paula Badosa
The Spaniard triumphed in 25 out of 34 hardcourt encounters last season, marking her peak performance. She secured victories in Washington and reached the US Open quarter-finals. In this year’s AO, Paula showed resilience against Olga Danilovic: trailing 2:5 in the second set, she pulled off a tie-break victory (7:6), avoiding a third set. Badosa has performed well against top-20 players, taking at least one set in four out of five matches. Additionally, in five out of her six head-to-heads with Gauff, the Spaniard has claimed at least one set.
Coco Gauff vs Paula Badosa Prediction
Gauff is undoubtedly the favourite given her current form and winning streak. However, Paula has proven she can challenge even the strongest opponents. The Spanish player’s arsenal includes powerful forehand shots and solid mental resilience, enabling her to win at least a set. Therefore, we will take a bet on a win for Paula Badosa with a handicap.
