Swiatek and Gauff have both been completely dominant on their way to the final in Paris but the Pole remains an overwhelming favourite. Can the American shock the world?
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Iga Swiatek will shoot for her 35th straight victory and second Grand Slam title when she meets Coco Gauff tonight and bookmakers continue to keep the 21-year-old safe in the market.
Swiatek possesses one of the best forehands in the women’s game but is able to dictate baseline rallies from both wings with ease. Gauff will have her work cut out to find a way through.
The American is yet to drop a set in Paris and has been the most dominant player at the tournament bar none. Her forehand is often mentioned as a weakness and Swiatek would be wise to attack it but the slower speed of the red clay does give her that little bit more time to take and make the right shot.
The pressure on the 2020 French Open champion to lift the Suzanne-Lenglen cup has been and will continue to be immense until the final shot of the tournament but Swiatek has shown very few signs of nerves so far. Next to no chance we see a meltdown from the Pole.
Gauff, on the other hand, was tense at times in her win over Trevisan and yet, she was still far too good for Italian. The 18-year-old has been billed as a Grand Slam champion in waiting for some time and now gets her chance.
The American doesn’t have the power of a Qieng Weng, who took a set off Swiatek in round four, but if Gauff can assert herself in rallies and dictate with her backhand, she can make a match of this.
Swiatek is 16-0 on clay this season and it would take an almighty effort from Coco to cause the upset here. That said, the value lies in Gauff to make the Pole earn it and I’m happy to back her in as a result.
