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Match Details
Fixture: (4) Coco Gauff vs (26) Katie Boulter
Date: TBD
Tournament: China Open 2024
Round: Third Round (Round of 32)
Venue: National Tennis Center, Beijing, China
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $8,955,610
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN
Coco Gauff vs Katie Boulter preview
Coco Gauff and Katie Boulter came through straight-sets wins over Clara Burel and Taylor Townsend respectively on Friday to set up a highly anticipated third-round encounter at the 2024 China Open.
Gauff, the fourth seed at this year’s tournament, finds herself in the middle of a slump, having made early exits in her last few WTA Tour appearances. The youngster failed to defend her US Open crown, crashing out in the fourth round to Emma Navarro.
Looking to build on her semifinal run in Beijing last year, Gauff will look to put her best foot forward. A win here would also be 41st against just 14 losses this season.
Boulter, meanwhile, is having a career breakthrough of sorts in 2024. Not only has the Briton lifted two titles this season — including her biggest at San Diego — but also reached a career-high ranking of No. 27.
Just a few places shy of the mark, Boulter came into the China Open in good form and boasts of a 28-16 win-loss for the season.
The Brit received a bye to the second round of the China Open due to her seeding and registered a 6-4, 6-4 win over Taylor Townsend to book her place in the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament.
Coco Gauff vs Katie Boulter head-to-head
Gauff and Boulter have split their two meetings so their head-to-head stands at a 1-1 deadlock. Their most recent meeting came in the second round of the 2023 Canadian Open, with the American winning 6-2, 6-2
Coco Gauff vs Katie Boulter odds
(Odds will be added once they're available)
Coco Gauff vs Katie Boulter prediction
Given the gulf in world rankings, Coco Gauff and Katie Boulter will be the big favorite to win the encounter on paper. She has, however, had her struggles of late.
The American had a hugely underwhelming North American hardcourt swing, failing to defend her titles both in Cincinnati and the US Open. Her serve and forehand have broken down at key moments, with the infamous 18 double faults in her fourth-round in New York, and Boulter will be looking to exploit those weaknesses.
Boulter has her own strengths, a reliable first serve and big groundstrokes in particular. She likes to go after her shots and will look to dictate rallies from the baseline.
Against the dogged defence from Gauff, however, she will need to be careful. The American may have her struggles on serve (her double fault count of 315 this year is the most by any player) but she comes into Beijing with a new team in place.
A tight encounter is in offing and Gauff will have to keep her service numbers high or be at the receiving end of her opponent's big-hitting.
Prediction: Boulter to win in three sets
