China Open 2024: Coco Gauff vs Clara Burel preview, head-to-head, odds, prediction and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (4) Coco Gauff vs Clara Burel
Date: September 25, 2024
Tournament: 2024 China Open
Round: Second Round (Round of 64)
Venue: National Tennis Center, Beijing, China
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hardcourt
Prize Money: $8,955,610
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - DAZN
Coco Gauff vs Clara Burel preview
Fourth seed Coco Gauff will kick off her 2024 China Open campaign against France's Clara Burel in the second round on Friday, September 27.
Gauff enters Beijing with a 39-14 match record this season, having won just one title, in Auckland against Elina Svitolina at the start of the year. While she had a decent first half of the season, her form has significantly dipped since Wimbledon. Her Olympic campaign was particularly disappointing, as she failed to advance past the third round in both singles and doubles.
Her North American hardcourt swing was particularly underwhelming, with struggles in both form and confidence. She lost in the third round in Montreal and in the second round in Cincinnati, where she was the defending champion. Her title defense at the US Open came to an end in the fourth round, where she was defeated by compatriot Emma Navarro in three sets.
Burel, meanwhile, enters the Chinese capital with a 19-22 singles record, with a trio of quarterfinal appearances in Linz, Strasbourg, and Ohio as her best results so far.
She performed reasonably well in the Grand Slams, reaching the third round in Melbourne and the second rounds at both Wimbledon and the US Open. Most recently, she participated in the Jasmin Open in Monastir as the second seed but was eliminated in the second round by eventual finalist Rebecca Sramkova.
Burel began her campaign in Beijing with a topsy-turvy 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory over Tamara Korpatsch in the first round.
Coco Gauff vs Clara Burel head-to-head
Coco Gauff leads Clara Burel 1-0 in their head-to-head matchups. She staged an impressive comeback in their only encounter at Indian Wells earlier this year, winning 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4).
Coco Gauff vs Clara Burel odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Coco Gauff vs Clara Burel prediction
Coco Gauff's recent slump does not overshadow her status as an exceptional hardcourt player. Now ranked seventh in the WTA rankings, the American will be eager to finish her season strong and could be a strong contender to watch in China over the next fortnight.
Burel in contrast has had her struggles on hardcourt this season, with most of her successes coming on clay. She has not been in great form since her quarterfinal run in Ohio, facing issues with inconsistent and erratic play.
Gauff enters this match as the favorite, given her superior record this season and her higher win percentage on hardcourt, along with one title to her name. Their previous encounter at Indian Wells was a memorable battle, and another exciting match could be on the horizon. The slower courts in China will likely suit Gauff's all-court attacking and defensive style.
Pick: Coco Gauff to win in straight sets.