Coco Gauff vs Kamilla Rakhimova – Australian Open, hard – 1/64-finals

2026-01-19 02:30

WTA Australian Open

odds 1.05

On January 19, 2026, the Australian Open will host a first-round women’s singles matchup between Coco Gauff and neutral-status player Kamilla Rakhimova on the hard courts of Melbourne Park. The match is scheduled to start at 02:30 Central European Time (CET), taking place during the night session for European audiences. Coco Gauff enters the contest as the clear favorite, supported by her powerful serve, elite athleticism, and aggressive baseline control. Rakhimova, competing under a neutral designation, relies on rally tolerance, backhand stability, and disciplined point construction rather than outright power. The contrasting styles create an intriguing dynamic, with Gauff aiming to impose tempo while Rakhimova seeks to extend rallies and test consistency.

Coco Gauff (USA / WTA №3)

Coco Gauff enters this match as one of the most complete and physically dominant players on the WTA Tour, combining power, speed, and tactical maturity despite her young age. Representing the United States, she has already established herself as a Grand Slam champion and a constant presence in the later stages of elite tournaments. Gauff’s game is built around a powerful first serve, aggressive forehand acceleration, and exceptional court coverage that allows her to turn defense into offense seamlessly. On hard courts, she is particularly effective at dictating rallies early, using depth and pace to push opponents behind the baseline. Her strongest assets include athleticism, mental resilience in pressure moments, and a rapidly improving all-court awareness. Past achievements such as Grand Slam titles, WTA 1000 trophies, and multiple wins over top-10 opponents underline her ability to perform consistently at the highest level. Coming into this first-round match, Gauff is expected to rely on controlled aggression and high tempo to secure a fast and authoritative start to the tournament.

Key strengths: power and athleticism, elite defense-to-offense transition, mental toughness
Achievements: Grand Slam champion, WTA 1000 titles, consistent top-5 ranking

Kamilla Rakhimova (neutral athlete/WTA №91)

Kamilla Rakhimova approaches this match as a solid baseline-oriented player who relies on discipline, timing, and rally tolerance rather than raw power. Representing Russia, she has built her career through consistent performances on the WTA Tour and strong results in qualifying rounds and main draws of major events. Her playing style focuses on extended rallies, clean backhand mechanics, and the ability to absorb pace from aggressive opponents. Rakhimova’s strengths include patience, court positioning, and a willingness to grind points until openings appear. She has recorded several notable wins over higher-ranked opponents in WTA 250 events, demonstrating her potential to capitalize when favorites lose rhythm. However, against elite players with superior serve and athleticism, she often struggles to maintain control of points. In this matchup, Rakhimova is likely to aim for long exchanges, hoping to disrupt Gauff’s rhythm and benefit from any unforced errors.

Key strengths: rally endurance, backhand stability, tactical discipline
Achievements: WTA 250 quarterfinal appearances, main-draw Grand Slam experience

Match Outlook: Coco Gauff vs Kamilla Rakhimova

Tactically, this match is expected to be shaped by Coco Gauff’s ability to impose pace and physical pressure from the opening games. Gauff will likely look to dominate with her serve and forehand, preventing Rakhimova from settling into prolonged baseline rallies. Rakhimova’s primary chance lies in slowing the tempo, extending points, and testing Gauff’s patience early in the match. Short-term momentum shifts are possible if Gauff starts aggressively but loses precision, allowing Rakhimova to gain confidence. However, sustaining this level over an entire match will be extremely demanding against a top-3 player. Over the full distance, Gauff’s superior athleticism, shot tolerance, and experience in high-stakes matches give her a decisive edge. The most probable outcome is a controlled straight-sets victory for Coco Gauff, with limited opportunities for a major upset.

Prediction

Our expert pick:

Coco Gauff enters the match as the significantly more complete and physically dominant player, benefiting from elite hard-court movement, superior serve quality, and proven Grand Slam pedigree, while Kamilla Rakhimova, competing under neutral status, relies primarily on rally tolerance, backhand stability, and defensive discipline rather than outright power. Over the course of the match, Gauff’s ability to control points early with her first serve and forehand aggression should consistently place Rakhimova in reactive positions, limiting her capacity to dictate tempo. Although Rakhimova may find short spells of resistance by extending rallies and capitalizing on any early-match inconsistency, sustaining this approach against a top-3 opponent over two sets remains extremely difficult. Gauff’s superior athleticism, transition defense, and experience in managing opening-round pressure at Grand Slams give her a decisive structural edge. Across 70–90 minutes, the American is expected to steadily tighten control, reducing unforced errors and closing the match efficiently without allowing momentum swings to escalate.

Recommended Bets

Total Under 18.5 games
Gauff - 5.5 games (Asian Handicap)
Rakhimova Under 7.5 games
For extra coverage: Total Under 19.5 games
Set betting: Gauff to win 2 - 0

Predicted Score: Coco Gauff 6 - 3, 6 - 2 Kamilla Rakhimova

Place a bet on the line of 1xBet with odds of 1.05 for a Coco Gauff win 1.05

More prediction analysis

Compare this match with other prediction pages and risk guides before making any betting decision. Focus on market logic, match context and bankroll control rather than one isolated pick.