While already a top ten player, Coco Gauff will be seeking even more in 2023 after an already impressive beginning on tour during her teenage years. She feels like a slam contender on all surfaces and should at least beat her current career best of a fourth round here this time round as well. She begins here with a match against Katerina Siniakova, opening Rod Laver Arena on Day 1 of the tournament.
Siniakova as a singles player has been a solid top 100 player but it is in the doubles where she has excelled. Her partnership with Barbora Krejcikova has been an incredibly lucrative one with the pair winning all three slams they competed at last year. As would-be defending champions at the French Open, it feels likely they would have been showcasing a calendar slam if not for Siniakova’s injury at that time.
Gauff made it look very easy in Auckland, dealing with a weak set of opponents with no fuss on her way to the title. Losing just 22 games in 5 matches, she was never in danger during her run. It is clear that the American has plenty more to show, as she further develops her game in the coming years. “I can’t put a percent on it, but I know the best is yet to come for me. I think that’s just looking at other players, when they’re winning most of their titles. So I do think I have a way to go.” she said.
It should be a fairly straight forward opening for Gauff, who could face another young prodigy in round two. Emma Raducanu will need to beat Tamara Korpatsch to make it but there will be some uncertainty with regards to the ankle injury the Brit picked up back in Auckland.
Prediction – Coco Gauff in straight sets
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