A blockbuster final awaits in Auckland, with the top two seeds facing off for the title. Last year’s US Open champion Coco Gauff plays 2023 Wimbledon semifinalist Elena Svitolina. It is rare to have two players of such high-quality competing for a WTA 250 title. As always, we at LWOT give our prediction for the final. But which player do you think will reign supreme at WTA Auckland?
WTA Auckland Final Prediction
Head-to-head: Svitolina 1-0 Gauff
The only previous meeting between these two was when Svitolina defeated a 16-year-old Gauff at the 2021 Australian Open in straight sets. Both women are now in very different places, making that match virtually irrelevant to this contest.
Gauff’s form has been ominously good. It may be a WTA 250 event, and she was the considerable favourite for all four matches, but her tennis has still been outstanding. Gauff’s serve in Auckland is as good as it’s ever been, and the work she has done with Brad Gilbert on that shot seems to be paying dividends. The 19-year-old is also stepping in and being really aggressive during rallies. Gauff’s superb athleticism is well-known, but she has not needed to rely on it yet this week.
However, Svitolina should not be taken lightly. A fair argument could be made that the Ukrainian is playing the best tennis of her already impressive career since her comeback from maternity leave. This is largely due to the increased aggression in her game, especially off her forehand. She won a high-quality three-set match against Emma Raducanu, demolished Marie Bouzkova, and then recovered from a set down against Xiyu Wang in the semis to reach the final.
The style of both players is not dissimilar. Each has increased their aggression of late, but both are also capable of being excellent counterpunchers. The biggest difference is that Gauff possesses the best backhand in women’s tennis, while Svitolina prefers to use her forehand as much as possible.
Svitolina is capable of making this match difficult, but it is still very hard to pick against Gauff. The US Open Champion’s improvements with her previously troublesome forehand in recent months will help her here. If she can soak up pressure from Svitolina’s forehand, the rest of her formidable game is likely to see her lift the WTA Auckland title.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports
