DailyExpertNews
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Iga Świątek remains on track to retain her French Open title after passing Coco Gauff 6-4 6-2 to reach the semifinals at Roland-Garros.
In a rematch of the previous year’s final, Świątek ultimately had too much quality for Gauff as her relentless strength and consistency ultimately destroyed the American.
Świątek has now beat Gauff in all seven of their WTA Tour encounters, with the teenager yet to win a set against the Polish world No. 1.
Next up for Świątek is Beatriz Haddad Maia, who earlier on Wednesday upset Ons Jabeur in three sets to become the first Brazilian woman to reach a grand slam semifinal in the Open Era.
“After the game I’m pretty happy with my game,” a modest Świątek, who has now reached the semifinals in four of the last six grand slams, told Tennis Channel.
“I’m happy that I managed to make it in two sets and in the first set, in key moments, I was more solid. It wasn’t easy, especially with the wind today, but I’m happy to be through to the semi-finals.”
Taking on Świątek on clay has got to be one of the most terrifying prospects in the sport right now and the 22-year-old was once against Gauff in impressive, irresistible form, especially when she ran away in the second set.
Gauff kept pace with her opponent in the opening set as the pair exchanged early breaks of service. However, the pressure soon mounted as Gauff served at 4–5 to stay in the set as Świątek broke with love to take the lead in the match.
It proved to be the beginning of the end for Gauff, who was powerless to stop Świątek’s inevitable march to victory.
If there were still fans betting against Świątek in Paris, that number will surely be even smaller now.
The three-time grand slam winner dropped just 15 games – including a 5-1 walkover victory against Lesia Tsurenko – in this run-up to the semifinals and is the overwhelming favorite to take her third title at Roland-Garros.
According to Opta, Świątek is the first player since Conchita Martinez in 1995 to reach the semifinals of the French Open after dropping 15 games or less.
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, who plays Karolína Muchová in Thursday’s semi-final, undoubtedly has the weapons to hurt Świątek, but playing against the pole on clay – arguably Sabalenka’s least favored surface – is an entirely different prospect.
With many of her matches over so quickly — she’s taken four bagels so far this tournament — Świątek has plenty of free time in Paris.
So what does the defending champion do to pass the time and relax when she’s not on the pitch?
“Well, I watched Madam Secretary and now I’m watching the second season of Ted Lasso, but it’s quite short, so I think I’ll finish tomorrow,” Świątek joked.
It’s fair to say she might have enough time to complete a few more series before the tournament is over.