World number 17 and Spain’s Garbine Muguruza will face American teenager Cori Gauff in the second round of the 2020 WTA Italian Open on Thursday, September 17. The match will be played some time after 1 pm local time (12 noon BST) local time. Get the live streaming options of this Garbine Muguruza v Cori Gauff match along with its preview, head to head, and tips here.
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Garbine Muguruza v Cori Gauff Head to Head
This will be the first meeting between the 26-year-old Muguruza and Gauff who is 10 years her junior.
Also Read:
Muguruza Unhurried by Stephens
It was a hurried trip to the US for Muguruza given her injury issue, withdrawal from the Cincinnati Open and the early defeat at the US Open. Her first round win here in Rome, was anything but that.
Playing a tricky opponent in the form of Sloane Stephens, Muguruza steamrolled the American 6-3, 6-3 to march into the second round of a tournament she has never won before. In fact, what’s interesting to note is the 2016 French Open winner hasn’t won a single WTA competition on clay other than that at Roland-Garros.
Muguruza’s best showing on clay other that title victory has been the semifinal appearance at the 2016 and 2017 Italian Open. At Madrid, which is the other clay court competition at the WTA Premier level, Muguruza has never got past the third round and never made it to the final of any other WTA tournament on this surface.
In short her last performance of note on clay had come in 2017 here in Rome. A win like this one against Stephens should give her some confidence go deeper in this tournament.
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Gauff Overturns Three-Match Losing Streak
A lot had been expected out of Gauff on the short American swing and when she got off to a flier at the Lexington Open, those thoughts were amplified multifold. Gauff had stunned Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur in that tournament to make it to the semifinal before Jennifer Brady sent her packing in straight sets.
This was followed by a 6-1, 6-3 defeat at the hands of Maria Sakkari at the Cincinnati Open and then another surprising defeat at the hands of Anastasija Sevastova in the opening round of the US Open.
Away from the eyes of the home fans – at least on social media – seemed to have helped Gauff arrest that slide as she downed Jabeur yet again in the first round here.
Making the victory sweeter for Gauff is the fact this was the American’s first ever win in a main draw of a tournament on clay! Her only previous appearances were restricted to ITF competitions and at the French Open last year she lost to Kaja Juvan in the second qualifying round.
The world number 53 will now look to build on that win and notch up another big scalp, having already defeated Venus Williams, Naomi Osaka, Kiki Bertens, Jelena Ostapenko and Sabalenka in the past.
Muguruza v Gauff Prediction and Tip
Muguruza might start off as a bookmaker’s favourite in this one at 4/9 but we don’t think the gulf is that vast between the two. Especially given Muguruza’s performances on clay have shown bit of a decline since her French Open victory. Expecting Gauff to win a set in this one at the very least.
Tip: Gauff to win a set – Yes: 4/6 (bet365)
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The Italian Open 2020 will be played from September 14 to September 20. You can watch & bet on the Italian Open here. Get your latest premium tennis predictions here.
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