Coco Gauff vs Simona Halep Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA National Bank Open

Prediction published on 11/08/2022, 15:54  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 23/09/2022 at 03:31 in Tennis Predictions

A win for Coco Gauff will take her into the top 10 for the first time in her career. The 10th seed faces Simona Halep (seeded 15th) for a place in the semi-finals of the National Bank Open. It's been a big year for Gauff with her run to the final of the French Open before being beaten by Iga Swiatek. The 18-year-old has steadily been climbing up the rankings and began this week in 11th position. Gauff can go up to tenth place if beating Halep. So far this week, the American has beaten Madison Brengle, Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and sixth seeded Aryna Sabalenka. The latter two of those wins were both earned in three sets. Last week saw Gauff reach this stage in San Jose and a win here woujld see her in her third semi-final of the year.

Simona Halep is going to be a tough nut to crack though. These two players have met on three previous occasions with Halep winning all of them in straight sets. Two of those wins have come this year in Madrid (clay) and Miami (outdoor hard). Halep is bidding to get to her sixth semi-final of 2022. Her only final was in her very first tournament of the year, when winning in Melbourne. Other semi-finals have been reached in Dubai, Indian Wells, Birmingham, Bad Homburg and Wimbledon. This week has seen her beat Donna Vekic, Zhang Shuai and Jil Teichmann, all without losing a set. Halep looks to be in the better form and can get the win here.