Elise Mertens vs Coco Gauff Prediction & Betting Tips - US Open, New York, USA

Prediction published on 31/08/2023, 14:01  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 02/09/2023 at 14:38 in Tennis Predictions

Sixth seeded Coco Gauff faces the 32nd seed Elise Mertens in the US Open third round. Whoever wins this match will take on unseeded opposition in the last 16. That'll be either Jennifer Brady or the resurgent Caroline Wozniacki. Gauff began this outdoor hard court Grand Slam ranked sixth but is up to fifth in the live rankings. The teenager also holds that position in the LIve WTA Race. The past few weeks have been hugely successful for her with wins in both Washington and Cincinnati. Only once has the 19-year-old got past the third round of this tournament. That was in last year's US Open when getting to the last eight. The first round of this tournament wasn't easy for Gauff. The American lost the first set to qualify Laura Siegemund but recovered to only lose six games in the next two sets. Round two was more comfortable with only five games conceded against Mirra Andreeva. There have been two previous matches against Mertens and Gauff has won them both. One was on clay and the other last year on grass. 

Elise Mertens is ranked fourth in the doubles but is only 32nd in the singles. The Belgian is up to 28th in the live rankings and her career high is 12th achieved five years ago. Mertens has had a tough route to this third round. The first round saw her have to come from behind to beat qualifier Mirjam Bjorklund in three sets. That took her into a second round match against Danielle Collins and again the first set was lost. The second set was won on a tie-break but Mertens only lost one game in the final set. Four times Mertens has got to the fourth round of this Grand Slam and twice made it to the last eight but no further. Five of the last eight Grand Slams that Mertens has played has seen her reach the fourth round. We don't believe that will be the case here though and tip Gauff to win in straight sets.