American Coco Gauff will have her chance at her first Grand Slam title in front of a home crowd, while Aryna Sabalenka, the soon-to-be new world No. 1, will be looking to win her second major of the year. The question remains, who will come out on top? We asked our panel of experts for their insights:
Pam Shriver suggests that Gauff can beat Sabalenka by playing strong defense and making her hit extra balls. Gauff’s forehand, in particular, needs to be able to withstand the extreme power of Sabalenka. Shriver also emphasizes the importance of Gauff’s serve, which should aim to earn her a free point per service game. Crowd support and the belief that she can win without her A-game will also play a crucial role for Gauff.
Cliff Drysdale advises Gauff to continue playing defensively, utilizing her lightning speed, but also urges her to be more aggressive than in her previous matches to avoid Sabalenka from dictating the game entirely.
Alexandra Stevenson highlights the importance of Gauff’s practice tactics with her forehand and her consistent speed on the court. She also acknowledges the impact of Brad Gilbert’s coaching style, which focuses on the visual aspect rather than new analytics. Stevenson believes that Gauff has a good chance of winning if she maintains her movement, lift her forehand, and stays focused on her game plan.
Rennae Stubbs suggests that Gauff should utilize her speed to get one more ball back and also use her forehand to go high to Sabalenka’s forehand, ensuring that it is hit with depth.
Alyssa Roenigk points out that Sabalenka spoke about Gauff’s hunger and the crowd support working in her favor. Roenigk advises Gauff to continue serving well, utilize her speed, play freely, and approach the match with the mindset that she has nothing to lose.
Bill Connelly analyzes Gauff’s previous matches against Sabalenka and concludes that her success lies in landing a high percentage of her first serves and winning a significant number of Sabalenka’s second-serve points. These strategies have proven effective in Gauff’s wins against Sabalenka.
D’Arcy Maine references Madison Keys’ match against Sabalenka in which Keys was able to capitalize on Sabalenka’s errors, hit a barrage of winners, and use the momentum from the crowd. Though Keys was eventually unable to secure the win, Gauff can take inspiration from this match and use it to her advantage.
On the other side, our experts also discuss what Sabalenka can do to defeat Gauff:
Pam Shriver suggests that Sabalenka should target Gauff’s forehand, which could disrupt her confidence. Shriver also advises Sabalenka to remain composed and show little emotion, as the crowd support will heavily favor Gauff. She recommends that Sabalenka takes inspiration from non-American women who have won on Ashe Stadium against American crowd favorites.
Cliff Drysdale believes that Sabalenka should rely on her power groundstrokes following a strong serve.
Alexandra Stevenson highlights the need for Sabalenka to improve her serve mechanics and manage the mental pressure of becoming No. 1. She also suggests that Sabalenka should focus on covering the court and utilizing her newfound net game to unbalance Gauff.
Rennae Stubbs emphasizes the importance of hitting through Gauff’s forehand and inducing short balls to take advantage of the open court.
Luke Jensen acknowledges that beating Gauff requires hitting winners past the fastest player in women’s tennis.
Alyssa Roenigk advises Sabalenka to avoid playing flat like she did against Keys. Sabalenka needs to attack Gauff’s forehand, shorten points, and force her into mistakes. She also needs to make Gauff question her belief in winning at the early stages of the match.
Bill Connelly suggests that Sabalenka should play her normal game, focusing on landing her big first serve and hitting with power. When Sabalenka is able to execute these strategies, she becomes the favorite against any opponent, including Gauff.
D’Arcy Maine points out that Sabalenka’s recent come-from-behind win over Keys will give her a boost in confidence and experience that she can carry into the final. If she comes out ready to play and avoids a slow start, she has a good chance of securing her second major title.
In conclusion, our experts provide a range of opinions on who will win the match. Cliff Drysdale predicts that Sabalenka will win in three sets, while Alexandra Stevenson stands by Gauff due to her ability to adapt and her lack of self-imposed pressure. Rennae Stubbs favors Sabalenka, citing her power as an advantage. Ultimately, the outcome is unclear and will depend on how both players perform on match day.
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