Coco Gauff vs Leylah Annie Fernandez Prediction & Picks - WTA Australian Open

Prediction published on 1/16/25, 5:48 AM  by Tyler Doty | Modified on 1/16/25 at 6:52 AM in Tennis Picks

In this Australian Open Grand Slam Round of 16, American Coco Gauff takes on Canadian Leylah Fernandez. Gauff, seeded number 3, is taking part in this tournament for the 6th year running. The Grand Slams seem to suit her well, as the US Open winner was a semi-finalist in last season's Australian Open against Aryna Sabalenka. This year, she won her first 2 rounds in just 2 sets, first against Sofia Kenin and then against Jodie Burrage. 

Leylah Fernandez, meanwhile, is seeded number 30. She won her first-round match over 2 hours against Ukrainian and world number 100 Yuliia Starodubtseva, then had to come from behind against Spanish and world number 110 Cristina Bucsa in the second round. This is the second tournament of the season for the Canadian, who tried her luck at the Adelaide tournament earlier this year. There, she won her 2 qualifying matches against Jodie Burrage (world no. 173) and Irina-Camelia Begu (world no. 80), before losing in the first round to Ekaterina Alexandrova (world no. 31) in a 3-set match.