United Cup 2025: Coco Gauff vs Leylah Fernandez; Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction

The stage is set for a blockbuster clash at the 2025 United Cup! American superstar, Coco Gauff is all set to take on Canada’s Leylah Fernadez on December 29 (Day 3). Who’ll win this epic battle? Well, Gauff was heard saying, “I think we all want to win. It’s not an easy start to the first match of the year, playing Leylah and Felix.” What did Fernandez say of this exciting matchup? “Playing against (Coco Gauff) is never easy. She’s a tough opponent, great competitor. So hopefully we’re going to have fun tomorrow and going to put on some good show,” said the 22-year-old Canadian. Who has the edge in this enticing encounter, though?

Coco Gauff vs Leylah Fernandez: Prediction

Coco Gauff started her season with a title triumph at the ASB Classic and ended the season by winning the WTA Finals. She defeated China’s Qinwen Zheng in the final of the 2024 WTA Finals event 3-6,6-4,7-6(2). Apart from these two, Coco Gauff has also won the China Open this year. She defeated Karolina Muchova (CZE) in that match in two sets. What will be the scoreline in her match against the Canadian, though?

Talking about the Canadian, Leylah Fernandez has failed to win a title this season. However, she has made quite a few deep runs in her previous tournaments in 2024! Her best record was reaching the final of the Eastbourne International in June 2024. However, she was defeated by Russia’s Daria Kasatkina in that match 3-6,4-6. After that, she made quite a few QF runs and also reached the SF of the Hong Kong Open. Fernandez is entering this match after beating Croatia’s Donna Vekic in the previous match at the United Cup by 6-4,6-3. Can the Canadian keep her winning run intact at this tournament?

Gauff vs Fernandez: Head-to-Head

Both Coco Gauff and Leylah Fernandez are two of the most promising tennis players on the women’s Tour at the moment. However, the 2023 US Open champion (Gauff) hasn’t yet faced the 2021 US Open finalist (Fernandez) ever in her career. So, currently, their H2H record is at 0-0!

Prediction: Gauff to win in three sets

Coco Gauff struggles a bit with her consistency in the 2024 season. However, she made a stunning end to her campaign in the last season by winning the WTA Finals. Experts opine this win would give her a boost in confidence for the upcoming tournament and it starts from the United Cup itself! After failing at the Paris Olympics, she is desperate to win a title for her nation. If we take a look at her record in the 2024 season, Coco Gauff (3) had a win-loss record of 54-17. On the other hand, her opponent, Leylah Fernandez (31) has a win-loss record of just 31-25.

Considering all these factors, Gauff seems to be having a slight edge in this epic battle! However, we’re not ruling out the chances of Fernadez coming up with a tough fight in this matchup. Now, if we take a look at their playing styles, Coco Gauff is known for her incredible athleticism and excellent defensive game. She can mix up her shots pretty well and has the ability to win longer rallies. Not only that, but even her incredible mental toughness gives her an edge in bringing out favorable outcomes from the nervy moments during her matches. However, her serves has been a major issue in the 2024 season. She has hit 250 aces in the last season but committed 430 double faults.

Talking about serves, even Leylah Fernandez struggled a bit with it last season. Fernandez hit 136 aces and committed 249 double faults! Now, if we shift our focus to her playing style, Leylah Fernandez mainly comprises power, agility, and incredible strategic moves. This left-handed tennis player can create some challenging angles to keep her opponents always on their toes. Even she has incredible athleticism and footwork. Considering their fighting spirit, we expect this match to go a little deeper, but Coco Gauff’s superior momentum makes her a favorite in this match.