Coco Gauff vs Karolina Muchova: 2023 Cincinnati Masters - Preview & Prediction
Coco Gauff just recently won her biggest trophy ever (WTA 500), and now she'll try to surpass that achievement by beating Karolina Muchova in the Cincinnati Masters final.
It really feels like the breakout of Coco Gauff, doesn't it? It's a funny thing to say because which breakout is it? It certainly isn't the first, which would be Wimbledon many years ago. It's not the Grand Slam one because that happened last year at Roland Garros? So which is it? It's the champion breakout.
Gauff has played in a lot of big matches but hasn't really won much, at least not in singles. In the doubles, the American has three WTA 1000 trophies, and five finals overall, but today will be her first singles one. The opponent is a tough one, one that's enjoying her best season ever.
Karolina Muchova is a player you don't want to play - ever. She has the tools to dismantle any playstyle because her own is anything but rigid. The week in Cincinnati has been really good, a confident comeback win over Aryna Sabalenka should see her approach this one without fear.
After all, she nearly beat Swiatek at Roland Garros earlier this year, and this is not as big of a match. Gauff has her own demons with big matches, she exorcised a huge one against Swiatek with a win. How far can that carry her? About as far as her imagination can take her. It's time to win a big one, at least the younger brother to the big one. The big one is coming up soon, though.
Head-to-head:
What makes this matchup so intriguing is that we haven't seen it ever. This will be the first match between them, and it's a big one. There are ways both players can frustrate the other, but Gauff holds a minor edge. Keep reading to find out what it is.
Prediction:
You can't teach the athleticism of Gauff. It's a gift, and it's a handy gift to have a tennis court. Iga Swiatek was visibly frustrated after seeing multiple high-quality shots returned during the semi-final. What might be good enough for 99 % of the Tour won't be good enough for Gauff, especially if she doesn't beat herself.
She's not doing that as of recently, showing a much better overall level under the combined tutelage of Pere Riba and Brad Gilbert. The latter's impact has been easily spottable immediately after his inclusion. Gauff explained him as a fountain of wisdom, and that rings true.
She's been very wise in the way she navigates these matches which is why she's the minor favourite. The combination of raw athleticism and newfound confidence and wisdom give her more than enough to beat Muchova.
It's really that simple; the match is on Gauff's racquet. Her peak is better than Muchova's peak, and she should win if she manages to control her emotions. Muchova can do that very well, so Gauff will need to do it better. The talent was never in question. It was only a matter of time when she unlocks it.
Prediction: Coco Gauff in three sets.
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