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Match Details
Fixture: (4) Coco Gauff vs Ann Li
Date: April 26, 2025
Tournament: Mutua Madrid Open
Round: Third Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain
Surface: Clay
Category: WTA 1000
Prize Money: $8,403,780
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN
Coco Gauff vs Ann Li preview
Compatriots Coco Gauff and Ann Li will clash in the third round of the Madrid Open 2025.
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Following a first-round bye, Gauff kicked off her run in Madrid against Dayana Yastremska. She had won both of their previous matches in straight sets. Perhaps this is why the Ukrainian came out firing on all cylinders this time and dished out a bagel to capture the first set.
Gauff quickly brushed off the disappointment as she reeled off five games on the trot to take the second set. The third set featured plenty of momentum shifts. The American led 3-0, but her opponent managed to get back on serve.
Gauff bagged the next two games to go 5-3 up and even held three match points on Yastremska's serve, but couldn't close it out. She failed to serve out the match herself after that, bringing the score to 5-5. However, she made one final push and nabbed the next two games to wrap up a 0-6, 6-2, 7-5 comeback win.
Li beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-3, 6-2 to reach the second round, where 25th seed Leylah Fernandez awaited her. The American raced to a 5-1 lead in the first set thanks to a double break. While she failed to serve out the set on her first try, she got the job done on her second attempt.
Fernandez fought back to capture the second set. She drew first blood in the third set to go 3-2 up. However, Li bagged four of the next five games to score a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win.
Coco Gauff vs Ann Li head-to-head
Gauff leads their rivalry 2-0. She won their previous meeting at the Berlin Open 2022 in straight sets.
Coco Gauff vs Ann Li odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Coco Gauff vs Ann Li prediction
Li is through to the third round of a WTA 1000 tournament for the second time in her career, and for the first time on clay, following her win over Fernandez. She threw in eight aces and won 68 per cent of her first serve points.
The American was all over the place in the previous round but managed to steady herself in time to beat Yastremska. She won only 46 per cent of points on the back of her first serve and committed eight double faults. She won 29 per cent of her first serve points in the first set, where she didn't win a single game. She hit a total of 48 unforced errors throughout the match compared to just 13 winners.
Gauff is rather vulnerable right now, with different parts of her game falling apart in the middle of a match. Her forehand is prone to breaking down more than ever, and coupled with her serving woes, she has to rely on her athleticism to keep the points going.
Nevertheless, given their results this year and overall accomplishments, Gauff is still the favorite to win against Li. The latter's 1-6 career record against top 10 players doesn't do her any favors either. The former US Open champion should be through to the next round despite her shaky form.
Pick: Coco Gauff to win in straight sets.
