Canadian Open 2024: Coco Gauff vs Wang Yafan preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (1) Coco Gauff vs Wang Yafan
Date: August 8, 2024
Tournament: Canadian Open 2024
Round: Second round (Round of 32)
Venue: Toronto, Canada
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize money: $2,788,468
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | Canada - Sportsnet, TVA Sports | UK - Amazon Prime Video | India - Sony Liv
Coco Gauff vs Wang Yafan preview
Top seed Coco Gauff will take on Wang Yafan in the second round of the Canadian Open. The winner of the match will face either 14th seed Diana Shnaider or Magdalena Frech in the third round.
Gauff has won 35 out of 46 matches so far this season, with just one title to her name so far. The American entered the WTA 1000 event at the back of a far-from-impressive Olympic campaign in Paris, where she lost to eventual silver medalist Donna Vekic in the third round of the singles event.
Before that, she exited Wimbledon following a fourth-round loss to 19th-seeded compatriot Emma Navarro.
Wang Yafan has won 12 out of 23 main-draw matches so far in this season's WTA Tour, with a semifinal run at the Hua Hin Championships in Thailand being her most notable achievement so far.
The 30-year-old entered the Canadian Open at the back of a second-round exit at the Citi Open, where she beat Karolina Plisova in the first round before losing 1-6. 7-6(5), 4-6 to sixth seed Victoria Azarenka.
Wang started her main-draw campaign in Toronto against Sofia Kenin and edged her out 7-5 in the first set. She cruised to a 3-0 lead in the second set before the American bounced back to take it to a tiebreaker. The Chinese eventually won the tiebreaker to secure a 7-5, 7-6(3) win and a place in the second round of the Canadian Open.
Coco Gauff vs Wang Yafan head-to-head
The two haven't locked horns previously on the WTA Tour.
Coco Gauff vs Wang Yafan odds
All odds sourced from BETMGM.
Coco Gauff vs Wang Yafan prediction
Gauff will enter the match as the overwhelming favorite to win despite her form not being at its best, considering her hard-court prowess and the fact that Wang's performances have been far from eye-catching.
The 20-year-old has served 93 aces on hard courts so far in 2024 and will be keen on adding more to that. However, she has also served over 120 double-faults and cannot afford too many of those.
Gauff will look to attack from the start of the match and put the pressure on Wang. The American will, however, have to be careful not overhit her shots.
Wang has served eight aces so far throughout the Canadian Open (qualifying and main draw) and will look to dominate her service games against Coco Gauff while looking for the odd, decisive break. The Chinese also does not shy away from playing aggressively and that just might be the best way for her to keep up with the World No. 2.
While Gauff has not been in the best of touches lately, this match doesm not seem one where she can falter mentally or otherwise.
Pick: Gauff to win in straight sets.