Coco Gauff, seed number 4, seemed to have been enjoying a lovely walk in the park until she waltzed into the tennis titan Naomi Osaka and managed a tango instead, ending it square at one set apiece. Before Osaka, Gauff was a steam engine, leaving Boulter and Burel starstruck, completed in two crisp sets to love. A bit riveting to recall, there was a little derailment back in September, Anna Navarro, the spanner in the works, she had Gauff in three sets.
Our friend Yuliia Starodubtseva, on a sparkling spree, puts the stars to shame. Undeterred by her underdog status, she's been clocking straight set victories like it's her paying job. Kalinskaya, Avanesyan, Siniakova, Siegemund, and Jang - a list of conquests nothing short of impressive. Two sets to love, that's her song and she's been playing it on repeat.
On paper, you're tempted to put the house on Gauff. She’s got the seeding, she’s got the trend. But then you pause, notice the little twinkle called Starodubtseva burning bright. With the fire in her belly and the recent form, it’s like Goldilocks and the three bears, everything feels just right.
Albert's Prediction: Gauff in 3 sets