World number three Coco Gauff threatened to return to some of her better form last time out in Madrid but she was edged out of the round of 16 by a resurgent Madison Keys. The 20-year-old’s remarkable blossoming on the late hardcourt swing last season saw her claim a maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open but she was a Roland-Garros finalist first, finishing runner-up to Iga Swiatek in 2022, and her gutsy game is probably still best-suited to this most combative of surfaces.
World number 55 Magdalena Frech grabbed a much-needed big win over in-form Ashlyn Krueger on Tuesday, snapping a six-match losing streak on tour, and she should be much improved on recent performances for it. The Pole found her peak form last summer on grass and hardcourts but she can be a solid all-court threat at her best, although a comfortable defeat to Gauff in Auckland in January suggests the American is the clear favourite. Back Gauff to hit the ground running in straight sets.
