Defending champion reaches RG semi-final with win over Gauff in echo of 2022 final
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFTIga Swiatek has more than enough on her plate this fortnight: she's the defending champion in Paris and is attempting to maintain her grip on the world No.1 ranking.
On Wednesday, she upheld both for at least another round with victory over sixth seed Coco Gauff.
In a rematch of last year’s final, the top seed kept her unbeaten run - now at seven matches - against the American intact with a 6-4, 6-2 victory.
Completely overwhelmed in her maiden Grand Slam final against the Pole last year and yet to take a set in any of their six previous encounters, Gauff needed to bring something different to the table.
The 19-year-old had compiled a modest 3-3 record on the clay leading in but in her first quarter-final showing since March she had played her way into the tournament.
Her tactics on a blustery day were effective early on as she tossed looped high balls to the top seed, luring her into attack.
It worked for a period as she pegged back a break for 3-all and kept the Pole honest on serve two games later before Swiatek pounced.
Gauff’s cry of anguish said it all after she was jammed into error and broken to love on her opponent’s 10th forehand winner for the set.
Thirty minutes into the second set Swiatek stamped her authority with a break for 4-2 and ramped up her attack to complete the result on a double break at the 90-minute mark.
While still two matches away from her third Roland-Garros trophy and at least one win from retaining top spot, Swiatek only reinforced the fact that she is up to the task ahead.
The No.1 seed extended her dominance of the American to 7-0. The only time she has dropped more than six games in a match between the two was in their first meeting in the Rome semi-finals two years ago.
Swiatek improves her Slam quarter-final record to 5-1, with her only defeat coming here against Maria Sakkari in 2021, and she has notched up her 25th win against a top-10 opponent.
The top seed was particularly dominant on her second serves, winning 75 per cent of points to Gauff’s 44 per cent.
Her 15 forehand winner’s to her opponent’s four did the damage while Gauff’s 23 unforced errors were eight more.
Swiatek on the early scare: “For sure it wasn’t easy, especially the first set, it was really tight… I’m really happy that I was able to work with it and win this match.
On expectations as defending champion: "I would say the beginnings of the tournaments are a little bit more tricky. Later you can just kind of play your game because you also feel a little bit more. Yeah, just getting into the rhythm is the toughest part and you kind of have to just progress a little bit, but keep it good...
"It happens sometimes in tournaments where I was winning matches pretty easily and then I just continued, you know. I feel like in terms of having these couple of tougher situations and really important points, you're just not going to feel rusty when it happens again. I didn't feel rusty today anyway, but it's good to have the experience."
Gauff on her campaign: "I tried to change up a different way of how I played. Obviously I didn't win, so it didn't work, but I think on certain points it did. But, yeah, I have to figure something out.
"I'm proud of how I was able to turn around the season. I think especially those wins in the first round and then against Mirra (Andreeva).
"In the past I would say after losing the first set it's been pretty tough for me to get back in the match, and I think that this tournament I really found that I guess the mental adjustments that I need to make in the game."
ROLAND-GARROS
19 May - 8 June 2025
