Women’s Tennis Association No. 1 Iga Swiatek’s clay court dominance was on full display in her straight-sets win over No. 2 Coco Gauff in the French Open semis Thursday morning.
With a win against either No. 12 Jasmine Paolini or Mirra Andreeva in Saturday’s final, Swiatek will join a shortlist of the best women’s tennis players to compete at Roland-Garros.
Swiatek has won consecutive championships at the French Open and can become the first since Justin Henin (2005-07) to not only threepeat as the tournament winner but win four French Opens in five years (2003-07). Swiatek won her first title at Roland-Garros in 2020.
Only one other woman, Monica Seles from 1990-92, has won three consecutive French Open titles since the end of World War II.
In her 6-2, 6-4 win over Gauff, Swiatek dominated on second serves, winning 67 percent (14-of-21) of her second serves and 68 percent of Guaff’s (21-of-31). Swiatek converted 4-of-7 breakpoints (57 percent), while Gauff, the last American remaining in singles competition, only converted one in four opportunities.
The world No. 1 also didn’t beat herself, recording only 14 unforced errors to 39 for Gauff.
Swiatek registered eight of her 10 winners in the second set, including this perfectly placed shot after Gauff returned her serve.