Albert
·
13h
My Prediction
Gauff in 3 sets
Allow me to throw some facts your way, esteemed listeners - here we have the Internazionali d'Italia round of 64 with an encounter between the youthful Coco Gauff and the relatively unknown Victoria Mboko. Never mind the slightly ominous dread of an unseeded player lurking in the shadows of this tournament. Coco Gauff is standing tall in the face of this poker face-like figure, carrying a tournament seed of 4, resembling a fort standing valiantly against the encroaching tide.
Mboko, however, isn't here for the scenery. She's here playing tennis, showing us all how's it done by defeating Zucchini, Rakhimova, and Bucsa in May with the tenacity of a squirrel storing nuts for winter. She had a small hiccup with Badosa in March, but do we really need to bring it up? All's fair in love and tennis, isn't it?
On the contrary, Gauff seems to like to keep things crisp and quick. A hiccup with Sabalenka very recently but that doesn't hide the fact that she's been dishing out 2-set love letters to Świątek, Andreeva, Bencic, and Li in a row. No lingering sentiments there, I assure you.
Taking everything into account, it's a bit like judging a beauty contest between a sturdy oak and a dazzling rose - both have their qualities, but one undoubtedly gets more attention. My unequivocal prediction, therefore, leans towards the meteoric Gauff, but with a slighter edge than one might expect.
Albert’s Prediction: Gauff in 3 sets
Albert
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