The Pick: Naomi Osaka vs. Coco Gauff, WTA Cincinnati second round

From her withdrawal heard ‘round the world and recent emotional press conference in Cincinnati to her Netflix docuseries and honor of lighting the cauldron at the Tokyo Olympics, it’s been a roller coaster three months for Naomi Osaka. She's been in the headlines for all of the reasons mentioned, but in the gaming world, it’s first and foremost about the tennis. Who is going to win, and why?

Osaka will take on Coco Gauff in just her third singles match in over two months. Osaka has long been one of the best hard-court bets in the business, but the talented teenager is no picnic, and has troubled the world No. 2 in the past.

Osaka welcomed Gauff to the big leagues with her 6-3, 6-0 beatdown at the 2019 US Open, but Gauff avenged that loss with a straight-set victory of her own at the 2020 Australian Open.

At this stage in her career, there's really nothing Gauff does better than Osaka, except cover the court. The 17-year-old will need to utilize her athleticism and speed to make that one extra ball on every point.

After an extended absence, the footwork and serve are typically the first things to go. When the pressure moments inevitably arise, it’s difficult to achieve the ever-elusive flow state when you are out of match practice. But Osaka is well suited against the speedsters, as she holds her forehand better than anyone else on tour. She waits so long to strike a sitter from her forehand wing that her opponent typically must choose a side.

I can’t recommend betting more than a minimum wager on this match, but I will always be of the belief that consistent match play is imperative. The margins are far too small in professional tennis to take extended breaks without missing a beat. There’s a very good chance Osaka blows Gauff out of the water, but it’s one I am willing to take.

The Pick: Coco Gauff