World number one Iga Swiatek is poised to face off against Coco Gauff in the French Open semi-finals, with Swiatek holding a dominant 10-1 record over her opponent. Despite Swiatek’s previous victories, she acknowledges Gauff’s growth since their last encounters, highlighting the American’s improved mental game and overall maturity.
While Gauff secured her sole win over Swiatek on a hardcourt at Cincinnati last year, Swiatek has emerged victorious in their last three meetings, all in straight sets. Despite her recent successes against Gauff, Swiatek remains cautious, recognizing the challenge Gauff presents, particularly with her recent form.
Swiatek’s path to the semi-finals has been marked by commanding victories, including a double bagel win over Anastasia Potapova and a convincing victory against Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova. Gauff, on the other hand, acknowledges the difficulty of facing Swiatek but remains determined to find a winning strategy.
With Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka experiencing upsets in the quarter-finals, the other semi-final matchup features Italy’s Jasmine Paolini and Russia’s Mirra Andreeva, both newcomers to this stage of a Grand Slam. Andreeva, in particular, stands out as the youngest Grand Slam semi-finalist in nearly three decades, emphasizing her impressive run in the tournament.
Reflecting on her upcoming match against Paolini, Andreeva acknowledges the challenge but remains focused on maintaining her level of play and composure, drawing from her previous encounter with Paolini in Madrid.
As the French Open semi-finals approach, anticipation builds for these matchups, with players poised to showcase their skills and determination on the grand stage of Roland Garros.