Coco Gauff stuns World No 1 Iga Swiatek to advance to Cincinnati final
- Planet Sport writer
- 20 August 2023
Gauff headed into the match with a 0-7 record against Swiatek but turned the tables on this occasion.
Coco Gauff scrapped her way to a maiden win over world number one Iga Swiatek to reach her first WTA 1000 final at the Southern and Western Open in Cincinnati.
The 19-year-old American showed her mettle to defeat the Pole 7-6 (2) 3-6 6-4 after losing their previous seven encounters.
Gauff trailed 5-3 and 6-5 in the opening set, but having dragged herself back into it, capitalised on a series of unforced errors in the tie-break to nudge ahead.
The Polish player's response was concerted as she took the second set to level, but it was she who faltered in the third as the number seven seed converted her fourth match point to go through.
It was Gauff's first win over Swiatek in eight attempts, and she admitted her losing record was a source of frustration for her.
"No offense to Gael [Monfils], but I did not want that record, like the Novak and Gael record," Gauff said after the match, referring to Djokovic's 19-0 record against Monfils.
"I'm really trying to cut this down as much as possible. So hopefully I can face her again and get the numbers up.
"But it feels really good. It wasn't necessarily, like, her as a player. I think it was just the moment, playing players like her. I think it gives me confidence that I have the ability. She's a four-time Grand Slam champion, No.1. It shows that I can be at that level or compete with that level at least."
Gauff will face unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova in Sunday's final after she got the better of Aryna Sabalenka in the other last-four clash.
Second seed Sabalenka took the first set on a tie-break, but Muchova hit back to win 6-7 (4) 6-3 6-2 and also clinch her first appearance in a WTA 1000 final.
