American tennis sensation Coco Gauff delivered a stunning performance at the Madrid Open by overpowering defending champion Iga Swiatek 6-1, 6-1 in a 64-minute clash on the clay courts of Spain's capital. With an aggressive mindset and by breaking Swiatek's serve multiple times, Gauff set the stage for her best-ever win on clay.
The victory was especially meaningful as it marked Gauff's first win over Swiatek on clay. "The mentality that I had in the whole match was aggressive," Gauff said. The rising star forced Swiatek into awkward positions throughout the match, overrunning the defending champion who had only recently bounced back from a tough quarterfinal against Madison Keys.
Looking ahead, Gauff will face top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the Madrid final. Sabalenka, fresh from her win over Elina Svitolina (6-3, 7-5), is no stranger to the finals at this tournament, having previously claimed the title in 2021 and 2023. With a strong head-to-head record against Gauff and a notable milestone of 30 main-draw wins this season, the upcoming final promises a thrilling showdown.
This match not only marks a career milestone for Gauff but also sets up an exciting finale filled with passion and high stakes. Tennis fans, get ready for an electrifying battle on court! 🎾🔥
Reference(s):
Gauff tops Swiatek to reach Madrid final against World No. 1 Sabalenka
cgtn.com
