Most people were expecting a #1 vs #2 final showdown between Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, but Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova completely flipped the script and will both be playing for a first WTA 1000 title tomorrow. It’s a final very few, if any, people anticipated at the beginning of the week, but it is sure to be extremely compelling and competitive. The WTA Cincinnati ends in unexpected fashion.
WTA Cincinnati Final Prediction
Coco Gauff vs Karolina Muchova
Head-to-head: first meeting
The final matchup of the WTA Cincinnati is a first-time meeting. Both players will be vying for the biggest title of their career to date; both have lost a Slam final (both at Roland Garros in the past two editions) and both will be playing their first WTA 1000 final. It’s the first meeting between the pair so it’s even tougher to predict what might happen; Muchova backed up her Roland Garros semifinal win over Aryna Sabalenka by beating her again here in another long, epic battle. Gauff finally slayed her Iga Swiatek-shaped demons; she had never won a set against the world #1 in seven previous meetings before beating her in the semifinals here.
If both players maintain the level they’ve shown so far this week, this is sure to be an amazing, high-quality battle. The challenge for Gauff will be to reset mentally after such a monumental achievement since the job isn’t done yet and Muchova will surely be a very tough nut to crack. Still, it does feel like the Gauff is the superior player overall and that it’s only a matter of time until she starts winning big titles on a regular basis; even if Muchova is more experienced and has been playing at a very high level, Gauff probably has a slight edge. It is a very hard final to call though and a lot will come down to how each player handles the nerves that come with fighting for the biggest title of their career.
Prediction: Gauff in 3
Main Photo: Albert Cesare-USA TODAY Sports
