2021 Australian Open Second Round – Coco Gauff vs Elina Svitolina Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Coco Gauff vs Elina Svitolina taking place? Melbourne Park, Melbourne
When is Coco Gauff vs Elina Svitolina on and what time does it start? Thursday 11th February, 2021 – not before 08:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Coco Gauff vs Elina Svitolina? Click here to reach the official 2021 Australian Open ticket selection
What channel is Coco Gauff vs Elina Svitolina on? The 2021 Australian Open will be televised on Eurosport so it is worth checking their schedule for this specific match
Where can I stream Coco Gauff vs Elina Svitolina in the UK? Sky customers can stream this match on the Sky Go app. Alternatively, the match can be streamed to subscribers of Eurosport Player, either on the official website or as an add-on to an Amazon Prime subscription
THE LOWDOWN
COCO GAUFF
- It is incredible to find that Coco Gauff is still only 16 years old but the world number 48 entered her seventh Grand Slam here in Melbourne and won her first round match in straight sets against Jil Teichmann.
- The teenage sensation made it all the way to the round of 16 on her Australian Open debut last year to match her overall Grand Slam debut placing at Wimbledon 2019.
ELINA SVITOLINA
- Fifth seed Elina Svitolina overcame a difficult test in her first round match with Marie Bouzkova, requiring a close second-set tiebreak to come through in straight sets.
- The 26-year-old Ukrainian is a two-time former quarter-finalist here in Melbourne but has never reached the final of a Grand Slam, making two semi-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2019.
THE PREDICTION
This is a box office match early-on in the Women’s draw between the fifth seed Elina Svitolina and crowd favourite Coco Gauff on Rod Laver Arena. Despite her status as the world number five and her two quarter-finals here, 26-year-old Svitolina will have to cope with playing the villain in front of a Melbourne crowd who, like the other Grand Slams, are totally absorbed with the story of Coco Gauff. The 16-year-old is a big-game player already and should be able to snatch a set against her top quality opponent here, carried by the support of the crowd. However, both to take a set in a win for Svitolina is the most realistic outcome of what should be a loud, entertaining match.
