Coco Gauff vs Ann Li Prediction 4/26/25 Madrid Tennis Picks

Coco Gauff and Ann Li meet in the third round of the 2025 WTA Madrid Open on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Here’s our Coco Gauff vs Ann Li prediction. This preview will also include a Coco Gauff vs Ann Li pick.

Coco Gauff Preview

Coco Gauff had a shambolic start to her Madrid singles on Thursday night, losing a rare bagel set to Dayana Yastremska. But the fourth seed produced an emphatic response to level the match in the second set and overcame a late collapse to seal a 0-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory. 

Gauff finished the match with three aces and eight double faults. She landed 48% of first serves in play and won 67% of first serve points (26/39). Gauff won only 38% of second serve points (16/42) and saved half of the 14 breakpoints she faced. Gauff won 53% of return points (52/99) and broke Yastremska seven times in the match. The American improves to 15-6 for the season as she chases her first WTA title of 2025. Gauff has won five of her last nine matches and is 2-1 on clay, losing to Jasmine Paolini in Stuttgart a week ago.

Ann Li Preview

Awaiting Gauff in the third round is fellow American Ann Li. The World No. 62 shocked Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in the second round in three sets. The match took 29 games to decide and lasted a little over two hours. Li almost threw away a 5-1 lead in the first set, but recovered her composure to win it 6-4 after a couple of serving attempts.

In the second set, it was a similar story except that Fernandez almost squandered her chance to level but eventually converted her fifth set point. In the third set, Li and Fernandez exchanged breaks early on, but the decisive moment came in the 10th game.

Li broke the former US Open finalist for the win. Li finished the match with eight aces and four double faults. She landed 61% of first serves in play and won 68% of first serve points (36/53). Li won 44% of second serve points (15/34) and saved six of 10 breakpoints. Li improves to 11-8 for the season. She’s won back-to-back matches for the first time since Singapore in early February. Li is competing in her first Madrid main draw.

Coco Gauff vs Ann Li Head-To-Head

Gauff and Li have met twice on the professional level (once on the ITF and the other on the WTA).

Gauff won both matches in straight sets.

Coco Gauff vs Ann Li Prediction

I don’t see an upset here despite Gauff’s recent patchy record on tour. Her serve completely malfunctioned in the opening match, but her backhand came to the rescue. She can use that shot to open up the court and stretch her opponents, and that was a game-changer against Yastremska, who was on an all-out attack throughout the match. There are levels to Gauff’s game that Li won’t quite be able to dodge. Give me Gauff in straight sets for maximum value.

Nur Said's Pick: Gauff in straight sets