[18] Coco Gauff lost their only previous meeting in straight sets. Luckily for the youngster, that was in 2021 and on hard courts. It’s almost a year later and Gauff’s game has matured significantly. Therefore, we expected more of contest today.

Coco Gauff Came To Play From The Start

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It was a case of Gauff starting red hot and Sloane Stephens playing with the usual casual attitude that has become her signature court demeanor. Yet, it was not all smooth sailing for the teenager who wobbled when she tried to serve out the first set. Credit her mental fortitude because she regained her composure fairly quickly and was able to break back.

Sloane Stephens Faded Quickly In Set 2

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Although Stephens broke Gauff twice in the second set, she could not hold her serve. It was an abrupt ending to what had the potential to be a nail biter. Gauff won 7-5, 6-2. It’s interesting to remember that Stephens was a runner-up in 2018 and looked as if the title was hers. Something changed for the American after she lost that final. It’s a pity since the game is still there because we get glimpses of it at times. However, the enthusiasm and consistency are missing, and you can’t win big titles without those.

Martina Trevisan Is The Next Opponent For Gauff

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We know Trevisan loves to play on clay. Martina Trevisan won her first WTA title this year on clay in Rabat. In 2020, she made it to the French Open quarterfinals, but has gone no further than the second round in the other majors. With her win against [17] Leylah Fernandez in three sets, the Italian like Gauff is into her first major semifinals. She also has the advantage over Gauff as well, beating her in 2020 at Roland Garros in three sets. Thus, we can expect a battle between the American and the Italian. “Who will get to their first major final?”

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