Swiatek marches into French Open semi-finals as dominance over Gauff continues
The pair had met within the last 12 months in the past, with Gauff profitable simply 4 video games, and the American had not received a set of their six earlier clashes.
The statistic stays and, though Gauff had some success with a brand new sport plan and pushed the world primary in a 6-4 6-2 defeat, that was of little comfort.
“Obviously you lose to someone seven times, you feel crappy,” mentioned Gauff, who struggled to carry again tears.
“It’s not fun at all but also, every time I play her, I’m not thinking about the previous record. If I go in believing that I lost the match before it already happens then I’m never going to win. But obviously when it’s over, yeah, it does suck.”
Gauff got here out with totally different ways to final yr’s last, testing Swiatek with excessive, slower balls to her backhand and making an attempt to not enable the highest seed to get right into a rhythm.
Her huge alternative got here within the third sport of the second set when she created three break factors – the third after drilling a point-blank backhand at Swiatek on the web, sending the Pole tumbling to the clay as she tried to keep away from it.
Gauff swiftly apologised, nevertheless it was Swiatek who had the final chuckle because the American fired pictures lengthy on every of her alternatives.
“I think a lot of the points I lost were off really small details,” mentioned {the teenager}. “The game in the third set I had an opportunity to go up 40-0 and then also I was up 40-15 on her serve and missed two returns. That’s on my end.”
Gauff was unrepentant about hitting Swiatek, saying: “I didn’t try to hit her. I was just trying to hit the ball hard in the middle of the court, and it happened to hit her.
“I apologised after but I think she knows that’s part of the game. If you hit a bad ball and you decide to run to the net, there’s always a risk that you get hit.”
The Pole didn’t react on the time, and mentioned later: “I don’t really know if that was her only option or not but I know Coco is a nice person and she wouldn’t mean it. Nothing personal. It happens.”
Iga Swiatek is seeking to win a 3rd French Open title
/ REUTERSSwiatek prolonged her report at Roland Garros to 26-2 as she chases a 3rd title in 4 years and she or he has solely misplaced 15 video games in 5 matches up to now.
While she is a transparent favorite to elevate the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen once more, Swiatek doesn’t wish to take an all-or-nothing method.
“It’s never like that, honestly, especially at a grand slam,” she mentioned. “I’m pretty happy to be in the semi-final again at Roland Garros. It’s a great achievement no matter how the tournament is going to finish.
“Especially coming into the tournament as a defending champion, it puts a lot of pressure on you. I’m really happy I can show consistency and just play good here every year.”
In the final 4, Swiatek will face a participant who has taken a way more scenic route in 14th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, who defeated Ons Jabeur to change into the primary Brazilian girl to achieve the French Open semi-finals within the open period.
After battling for almost 4 hours to beat Sara Sorribes Tormo within the fourth spherical, she discovered herself with work to do after dropping the opening set to seventh seed Jabeur however fought again impressively to win 3-6 7-6 (5) 6-1.
Haddad Maia has spent almost 13 hours on court docket in reaching the final 4, greater than twice so long as Swiatek, who she beat of their solely earlier assembly in Toronto final summer time.