Coco Gauff vs Marta Kostyuk Prediction, WTA Finals Day 5 Betting Tips

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Day 5 of the WTA Finals in Indian Wells sees Group 2 reach its conclusion, and there is plenty still to play for heading into these final round robin matches. Linda Noskova has already secured her place in the semifinals, but the second spot remains up for grabs, and Coco Gauff will be desperate to claw her way back into contention after a chastening defeat earlier in the week.

Jessica Pegula vs Linda Noskova

Noskova has been the story of this tournament. A dominant 6-3 6-3 victory over Coco Gauff on her WTA Finals debut confirmed her place in the last four before she had even completed her group stage campaign, and the Czech has looked utterly fearless throughout. When a player is already through and carrying zero pressure, they can be a nightmare to face. Pegula got herself back on track with a 6-2 7-5 win over Marta Kostyuk that eliminated the Ukrainian and kept her own semifinal hopes breathing, so she arrives here knowing she needs a result.

The head to head record leans Noskova’s way at 3-1, and three of those four meetings have gone to three sets, so Pegula is unlikely to be blown away. She is a grinder who raises her level in must-win situations, and she will make Noskova work. The problem is that Noskova is currently striking the ball at a level that makes her deeply difficult to put away. Pegula’s greater motivation might keep this close, but the form book points firmly in one direction. Noskova wins, though Pegula will push her to a third set.

Prediction: Noskova in 3

Coco Gauff vs Marta Kostyuk

Gauff has absolutely no room for error here. After being taken apart by Noskova in her opening match, she needs a straightforward win to stay in the hunt for that second semifinal spot, with one eye firmly on how the Pegula and Noskova result unfolds. The pressure is squarely on her shoulders, which is both a burden and a motivator for a player of her competitive instincts.

Kostyuk came into this tournament as an alternate following Elena Rybakina’s withdrawal, and her Finals debut has been a rough one. Two defeats without a set won, including that 6-2 7-5 loss to Pegula, means she is already out and playing purely for pride in this final group match. The head to head heavily favours Gauff at 4-2 overall and 4-1 on hard courts, and earlier this year Gauff dismantled her 6-2 6-2 in Cincinnati. With nothing riding on the result for Kostyuk and everything riding on it for Gauff, the American should be fully locked in from the first game. Keep the double fault count down and this should be a comfortable afternoon’s work.

Prediction: Gauff in 2

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