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Match details
Fixture: (3) Coco Gauff vs (6) Wang Qiang
Date: 22 May 2021
Tournament: Emilia-Romagna Open 2021
Round: Final
Venue: Parma, Italy
Category: WTA 250
Surface: Red clay
Prize money: $235,238
Match timing: 2.30 pm local time, 12.30 pm GMT, 8.30 am EST
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Coco Gauff vs Wang Qiang preview
American teenager Coco Gauff will aim for her second career title when she takes on China's Wang Qiang in the Emilia-Romagna Open final on Saturday. Having tasted success at the Linz Open in 2019, the fast-rising Gauff has another opportunity to add to her trophy collection, this time on clay.
The American began her claycourt season with a quarterfinal appearance in Charleston. She then carried that momentum into Rome, reaching the semifinals of the WTA 1000 event.
At the Emilia-Romagna Open this week, Gauff has maintained her poise to secure straight-sets victories over quality opponents in Kaia Kanepi, Camila Giorgi and Amanda Anisimova. Against the tricky Katerina Siniakova in the last four, the 17-year-old dropped a set for the first time this tournament. However, she managed to regain her composure to notch up a 7-5, 1-6, 6-2 win.
Wang Qiang, meanwhile, has hit her stride at Parma this week after a year of struggles.
The Chinese won a couple of titles in 2018 to reach a career-high No. 12 in the rankings, but has since slipped to No. 48. The start of 2021 had been particularly tough for her, as she had managed only four wins on the tour heading into Parma.
But Wang has doubled that tally with four victories at the Emilia-Romagna Open this week, to improve her win-loss record to 8-11 for the year.
Wang's fighting spirit and determination stood out in her quarterfinal win over second seed Petra Martic. In a see-sawing battle that lasted three hours, the Chinese held her nerve to eke out a 7-6(4), 3-6, 7-5 win.
She also clawed her way back from 5-1 down in the second set of her semifinal match against Sloane Stephens before sealing a 6-2, 7-6(3) victory.
Wang will need to channel plenty more of that never-say-die attitude if she is to stand any chance against the feisty Coco Gauff on Saturday.
Coco Gauff vs Wang Qiang head-to-head
Coco Gauff and Wang Qiang have never faced each other on the WTA tour before, so their head-to-head currently stands at 0-0.
Coco Gauff vs Wang Qiang prediction
Saturday's match will be a battle between two players who have had contrasting seasons. While Coco Gauff has soared high all year, Wang Qiang had been a pale shadow of her usual self for most of the season until finally finding her rhythm in Parma.
An improved serving display has contributed to the Chinese's upturn in fortunes. Against Martic in the quarterfinals, Wang produced six aces and won 64.2% of her first-serve points. She carried that serving form into her semifinal clash with Sloane Stephens, winning 63% of her first-serve points.
However, her return game can sometimes leave a lot to be desired. Wang was able to convert just five of the 11 break points she earned against an error-prone Stephens. That's an area she will need to improve on when she faces Gauff, who has been striking the ball confidently all year.
Gauff's movement and patience have been key to her success on this surface. Her only concern right now is her shaky serve, which coughed up as many as 11 double faults against Siniakova in the semifinals.
If she can clean up her act on serve, Gauff should find herself lifting a WTA trophy for the second time in her career.
Prediction: Coco Gauff to win in two tight sets.
