By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Photograph credit score: Andy Cheung/Getty
Coco Gauff concedes she frolicked wanting as much as Iga Swiatek within the rankings and on courtroom.
When Gauff faces defending Madrid champion Swiatek in tomorrow’s Mutua Madrid Open semifinals, she says she’ll carry greater than her Head racquet bag on courtroom—she’ll be armed with the self perception that comes from sweeping Swiatek of their final two conferences.
Total, the second-ranked Swiatek has dominated Gauff successful 11 of their 14 conferences, together with sweeping all 10 units they’ve performed on clay. In truth, Gauff has solely managed to win greater than 5 video games in a clay-court set simply as soon as of their rivalry and that got here in a 7-6(3), 6-3 defeat of their maiden assembly within the 2021 Rome semifinals.
Regardless of that ignominious document, Gauff says she’s assured heading into their newest encounter as a result of she’s scored straight-sets wins over Swiatek of their final two conferences. And since she believes she’s realized to play the opponent and never the reigning Roland Garros champion’s document as she did previously.
“I believe simply perception [is the difference],” Gauff informed the media in Madrid at the moment after defeating Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-1. “To start with of our matchups, I imply, she was a high participant, and I felt like I possibly form of wrote myself off earlier than the match even got here, and now clearly I’ve a variety of perception.
“Yeah, she’s a tricky opponent and, yeah, I do not take into consideration that head-to-head anymore. I imply, possibly initially I did. Now I simply deal with it as a brand new match, new alternative every time. And, yeah, I am going to go on the market with confidence, and I imagine that I’ve the sport that I can win the match.”
After all, Swiatek has persistently pounded Gauff’s weaker forehand wing commanding their clay-court clashes, together with a 6-1, 6-3 sweep within the 2022 Roland Garros last. Swiatek can also be one of the best clay-court mover within the sport, which has has diminished one of many greatest weapons Gauff holds over the remainder of the world, her eye-popping velocity and courtroom protection.
Each Slam champions determine to be extraordinarily hungry for achievement tomorrow. Swiatek is taking part in for her first last since she stopped Jasmine Paolini to win Roland Garros final June.
The 21-year-old Gauff is bidding for her first last since she received the WTA Finals crown final November defeating US Open finalist Jessica Pegula, No. 2 Swiatek, No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Olympic gold-medal champion Zheng Qinwen to take her greatest title for the reason that 2023 US Open.
At present, Australian Open champion Madison Keys ripped returns proper again at Swiatek jamming her as much as dish the primary bagel set the Pole has absorbed on clay for the reason that 2019 Roland Garros when Olympic gold-medal champion Monica Puig shut her out within the first set. Nonetheless, Swiatek confirmed resilience rallying for an 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 triumph that noticed her win 5 video games in a row to shut Keys.
One query in tomorrow’s semifinal: Can Gauff assault the Swiatek second serve wtih the identical success gamers like Andreeva, who defeated the second seed back-to-back in Dubai and Indian Wells, and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, who’s 6-0 lifetime vs. the Pole, have executed forcing Swiatek to defend?
Or will Gauff resort to the tactic she’s used in opposition to Swiatek previously, which is play excessive, heavy topspin forehands down the road to the Roland Garros champion’s backhand wing to attempt to elicit backhand exchanges?
All through a lot of Madrid, Gauff has served with confidence.
Going through Andreeva at the moment, the 2023 US Open champion received 22 of 26 first-serve factors and dropped serve solely twice. In opposition to Olympic gold-medal champion Belinda Bencic within the spherical of 16, Gauff additionally received 22 of 26 first-serve factors and confronted just one break level.
After ousting Andreeva at the moment, Gauff stated she likes her possibilities in opposition to anybody if she will play to this lofty stage.
“I really feel like I at all times really feel like I’ve a great likelihood, I imply, in opposition to anyone I play,” Gauff informed the media in Madrid. “If I am going into the match pondering I do not, then I’ve already misplaced the match.
“No, I do not take note of the units [vs. Swiatek] or something, as a result of on the finish of the day it is a new week, new time. I misplaced the primary set this event, 6-0, and all people was like, Ooh, she’s going to lose subsequent spherical, or no matter.
“And so it is simply tennis, like, you lose, you reset, you begin once more. Yeah, I’ll anticipate her to play some nice tennis and possibly her greatest tennis, and I am going to attempt to match that by taking part in my greatest tennis.”
