Wuhan Open 2024: Coco Gauff vs Viktoriya Tomova preview, head-to-head, prediction, and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (4) Coco Gauff vs Viktoriya Tomova
Date: 9 October, 2024
Tournament: 2024 Wuhan Open
Round: Second Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Optics Valley International Tennis Center, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hardcourt (Outdoor)
Prize Money: $3,221,715
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN
Coco Gauff vs Viktoriya Tomova preview
China Open champion Coco Gauff will look to continue her winning run when she takes on Viktoriya Tomova in the second round of the Wuhan Open.
Gauff, who is the fourth seed at this year’s tournament, finds herself on a six-match winning streak that saw her lift her first WTA 1000 title of the season in Beijing. The youngster beat the likes of Karolina Muchova, Paula Badosa, and Naomi Osaka, en route to being crowned the champion.
Working with new coach Matt Daly, the American has now improved her win-loss for the season to 45-14.
Viktoriya Tomova, meanwhile, finds herself in the middle of a breakthrough season. The Bulgarian, having broken into the top 50 of the world rankings this year, has grown immensely as a player and could well push the fourth seed.
The opening round saw Tomova save multiple match points against Ashlyn Kreuger to take the win 1-6, 7-6(8), 7-5. She had earlier made the quarterfinals at the Korea Open and will look for another big run to improve her 31-28 win-loss record this year.
Coco Gauff vs Viktoriya Tomova head-to-head
Gauff and Tomova have never crossed paths on the Tour before so their current head-to-head stands at 0-0.
Coco Gauff vs Viktoriya Tomova odds
(Odds will be updated when available)
Coco Gauff vs Viktoriya Tomova prediction
Given the huge gulf in rankings, Coco Gauff will come into the contest as a firm favorite on paper. The American would also be running high on confidence having just won her first WTA 1000 title of the season a week ago.
The American had a long period of struggle starting the middle of the year, with her serve turning into a liability, most evidently at the US Open where she fired 18 double faults in her fourth-round loss to Emma Navarro. The American did hit double-digit double faults in multiple matches at Beijing but was able to lift the rest of her game, which is a good sign for her.
Against Viktoriya Tomova though, she will have to be very patient. The Bulgarian has always been a tenacious fighter chasing down a lot of balls and frustrating her opponents into over-pressing. Tomova has also added a new dimension to her game where she tries to be more aggressive on her backhand side in particular.
Both players in fact prefer the backhand and it could turn into an interesting battle for baseline control. But given her recent results, Gauff should be feeling good about her prospects.
Pick - Coco Gauff to win in three sets