Pick of the Day: Marta Kostyuk vs. Coco Gauff, Australian Open

There is a real road to Coco Gauff winning her second Grand Slam in a row, as the draw has opened up for the young American. Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina are no longer waiting on the other side of the bracket, so the biggest obstacle standing in her way is likely Aryna Sabalenka. That’s who Gauff beat to win the 2023 US Open. But could Coco overlook Marta Kostyuk, who she’ll face in the Australian Open quarterfinals.

Gauff hasn’t dropped a set in Melbourne, so there’s no denying that the 19-year-old is in great form right now. However, the American has had a very easy road thus far, and Kostyuk will easily be the most talented player she’s faced. Kostyuk is coming off a 6-2, 6-1 win over Maria Timofeeva, who  had defeated Alize Cornet, Caroline Wozniacki and Beatriz Haddad Maia to get to the fourth round. The was an impressive performance from Kostyuk, who edged out Elise Mertens earlier in the tournament. Now, I think the Ukrainian can put a scare into Gauff.

I’m not sure Kostyuk will threaten to win this match, or even take a set, but I like the 21-year-old to win at least seven games at a decent price. A bulk of that can be done in one highly competitive set. The only previous meeting between these two players happened to be in Adelaide in 2022, when Gauff came away with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 win. That match could have gone either way, and I think this will be a great opportunity for Kostyuk to show the world that she’s a legitimate Top 25 talent in the women’s game.

The play from the baseline in this match should really be something to behold, as Gauff is one of the most relentless movers on tour. However, Kostyuk shares some similarities with Gauff, as she can track down a lot of balls. The Ukrainian is also capable of flipping the switch and going on the offensive by attacking with some crazy angles.

The key for Kostyuk will be her serve. Kostyuk has always been a very good returner, but she hasn’t been reliable with the ball on her racquet. This season, she has been a lot more locked in as a server. That will need to continue here, as that’s her only way of keeping this close. I’m willing to take a shot on it, as I think this player prop is disrespectful to her talent.

Pick: Kostyuk Over 6.5 Games Won (-130)