Iga Swiatek v Coco Gauff: Prediction, Tips and Odds

The first semi-final of the women's French Open takes place on the Philippe-Chatrier Court on Thursday and it is set to be a cracker as world number one Iga Swiatek takes on third seed Coco Gauff.

Swiatek remains the player to beat in the women's competition and she is fresh from a 6-0 6-2 trouncing of former Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova in the quarter-finals.

As for Gauff, she recovered from a set down to defeat eighth seed Ons Jabeur 4-6 6-2 6-3 last time out and she will be eager to cause an upset.

Iga Swiatek v Coco Gauff betting tips and predictions

Iga Swiatek to win and under 18.5 games - 1/1

It would be a bold move to oppose Swiatek at the moment.

Once again, the Pole has looked right at home on the Paris clay, having reeled off her 19th consecutive win at the French Open in the quarter-finals.

Indeed, she required only 62 minutes to sink Vondrousova 6-0 6-2 and that was also her 17th successive victory on the clay courts this season.

Swiatek is targeting a third consecutive French Open title and since her second-round wobble against Naomi Osaka, she has been untouchable, winning each of her last three matches in straight sets and losing only eight games in the process.

That run also included a ruthless 6-0 6-0 double-bagel demolition of the unseeded Anastasia Potapova in the fourth round, having conceded a mere 10 points in that encounter.

Everything is falling into place for Swiatek and Gauff is not expected to trouble the top seed - even a 2-0 win for Swiatek is priced at 2/5.

Punters will therefore need to get creative with their bets and a Swiatek win and under 18.5 games is the way to go at 1/1.

Swiatek has been spending as little time on court as possible in Paris and has won four of her five matches at this year's Grand Slam in straight sets.

And all four of those victories also featured fewer than 18.5 games.

Gauff is of course a talent on clay in her own right and she also reeled off four straight 2-0 wins at this year's French Open.

But she dropped the opening set against Jabeur last time out and has an awful record against Swiatek.

The Polish ace leads the head-to-head 10-1 and beat Gauff in both the 2022 French Open final and the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam last year.

Iga Swiatek -5.5 games on handicap - 4/6

Those expecting another Swiatek thrashing should also look at backing the Pole at -5.5 games on the handicap.

Swiatek has typically been a fast-starter at this year's French Open - against Vondrousova in the quarter-finals she struck seven winners in the first three games.

She likes to get on top of her opponents and if there is even a little apprehension from Gauff as a result of her previous encounters with the Pole, Swiatek will capitalise ruthlessly.

In her last two matches alone, Swiatek has conceded only two games and even accounting for the step up in quality with Gauff, this could be another drubbing.

In her four straight-set victories at the French Open this season, Swiatek has won the game count 12-2, 12-0, 12-6 and 12-3.

She would have covered -5.5 on the games handicap in each of those assignments and it would also have clicked in the quarter-final meeting between these players in 2023, when Swiatek prevailed 6-4 6-2.

Read more tennis betting tips and predictions on site.

Iga Swiatek v Coco Gauff odds

Iga Swiatek - 1/9
Coco Gauff - 11/2

View the full market and more odds for Iga Swiatek v Coco Gauff on site.

Read Iga Swiatek v Coco Gauff how to watch, TV channel, head-to-head stats, team news and more on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.