Coco Gauff will face Paula Badosa in the 2024 China Open semi-final, with both players eyeing the WTA 1000 final.
This is truly a matchup of two players who are in different places when it comes to their form. One has been in superb form while the other has struggled tremendously in the past couple of weeks.
Gauff has had a couple of really challenging weeks. She found a solid level in Beijing but is far from unbeatable. Even her most recent match was barely a win for the American, despite facing the World No. 115.
Badosa, on the other hand, has been playing inspired tennis lately. Her US Open run was some of the best tennis we have seen from her in the past few years, and she's continued playing that way in Beijing.
Fans still remember her being the World No. 2 player, and her level is getting close to that. Her level was never in question; it was mostly her health that could be holding her back.
The moment she could play tennis regularly and consistently, she found a really good level. It's not a surprise because she's one of the most talented players on the WTA Tour. That being said, beating Gauff won't be easy, but it's not something she hasn't done before.
She's certainly in far better form right now, but to beat Gauff, the Spanish player will need to find a really high level, as the American is very good at defending against heavy pressure.
Consistency and heavy pressure are the only ways to beat her, and luckily for Badosa, she enjoys playing that way.
Head-to-head:
When it comes to their previous matchups, it's an interesting mix with wins for both players. Five matches have been contested so far, with Badosa leading the H2H 3-2 overall.
Since this match will be played on hard courts, the score on that surface is crucial. So far, it's 2-1 for Badosa, who interestingly won both matches on what are perceived as the slower courts.
Playing on a slower court allows her to unleash her baseline game properly. Gauff is the weaker hitter than Badosa, particularly at this time of the season when she's even less confident than before.
Still, the last match they played was a three-set match, and Badosa lost it. It was on clay, and she ran out of steam in that match, losing the final set 1-6. However, this time around, she should be more than ready for a battle.
| Paula Badosa | Coco Gauff | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | H2H | 2 |
| 19 | Rank | 6 |
| 26 | Age | 20 |
| 34-16 | 2024 W/L | 43-14 |
| 358-197 | Career W/L | 218-96 |
Prediction:
That match will be on Badosa's racket because she is the favorite in this match, simply because of her great form. Gauff hasn't been playing that well, and her serve is undergoing a transformation, as she continues hitting too many doublesfaults.
That will allow Badosa plenty of opportunities to apply pressure, and if she's very precise with it and uses her chances well, she will likely win the match.
Prediction: Paula Badosa to win in three sets.
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