WTA Finals Day 2 Predictions Including Coco Gauff vs Jessica Pegula

Group Steffi Graf begins on Day 2 at the WTA Finals. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is scheduled to face Jasmine Paolini before defending champion Coco Gauff’s battle against her compatriot and former doubles partner Jessica Pegula. We at LWOT give our predictions and analysis in this article, but which players do you think will win?

WTA Finals Day 2 Predictions

Aryna Sabalenka vs Jasmine Paolini

Head-to-head: Sabalenka 5-2 Paolini

Paolini’s most recent win against Sabalenka was in 2022. Both women have improved significantly and achieved a lot since then. But the Italian has struggled to cope with Sabalenka’s power since their first three meetings, losing the last four matches without dropping a set. Although some of those sets were close, eight consecutive sets lost prove beyond doubt that this is a challenging matchup for Paolini.

That recent record includes Sabalenka’s 6-3 7-5 victory at last year’s WTA Finals. The conditions in Riyadh are not overly quick, which gives Paolini some hope of using her athleticism and frustrating the US Open champion. However, the most likely outcome is Sabalenka’s power proving the difference between the players again.

Prediction: Sabalenka in 2

Coco Gauff vs Jessica Pegula

Head-to-head: Pegula 4-3 Gauff

Gauff trailed 1-4 in the head-to-head before winning the last two meetings in straight sets. The first of those was a 6-3 6-2 triumph at the 2024 WTA Finals before beating the 31-year-old 6-4 7-5 in the Wuhan Open final a few weeks ago. Gauff’s forehand, holding up much better than before, was pivotal to those victories. Pegula successfully attacked that side in cross-court forehand rallies and with her excellent backhand down-the-line in her four successes against the French Open champion.

If Gauff’s forehand flourishes again, Pegula will need the 21-year-old’s notoriously troublesome second serve to give her several openings. The younger American is more naturally talented and moves much better than her opponent. After two consecutive wins against Pegula, a great Asian swing, and returning to conditions where she is comfortable, Gauff should be confident of victory.

Prediction: Gauff in 2