Swiatek v Gauff enters new era in Beijing

Now that both are Grand Slam champions, episode 9 of the Swiatek v Gauff rivalry marks the beginning of a new era for the pair.

Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek in Miami (Zuma/Panoramic)

Chris Oddo

October 6, 2023

The first seven meetings between Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff were utterly lopsided. The Polish juggernaut, at the height of her powers and relative confidence against her younger would-be rival, plowed through their first 14 sets without a blemish, causing Gauff to scratch her head and wonder what she could do about it.

Gauff on Swiatek – I would dream to have a season like hers

On Friday, after her quarter-final victory over Maria Sakkari in Beijing, Gauff stressed that she still has a long way to go and much to improve about her game. Nevertheless, she is toting career-high confidence right along with her career-best winning streak, and that should help her against Swiatek on Saturday.

“I think after the win in Cincinnati I have more confidence going in,” Gauff said.

But the American knows that she is still facing a very difficult opponent, in a matchup that has proven difficult for her.

“It’s going to be a tough match. She’s a tough player. She was No. 1 for a long time. Still contender for that spot,” Gauff said. “I’ve seen some of the comments people are saying, like she [didn’t have] a good season. I mean, she won a slam and was No. 1 forever. I’m like, I would dream to have the season like she had this year.”

The third-ranked American, who is currently 1,285 points behind Swiatek in the Race to Cancun standings (an accurate reflection of year-end ranking), says she doesn’t want to overthink the pair’s ninth meeting. She just wants to relax and put her best foot forward.

“I think it’s going to be a tough match,” she said. “I’m not going to try to put too much pressure on myself. I lost to her a lot of times. I’m just trying my best to close the head-to-head a little bit closer. I’ll try to get number two on the board. If not, I’m really happy with how I played this week. I feel more confident going in than I did in Cincinnati.”

Swiatek – I know how she plays

As for Swiatek, she doesn’t give off the impression that she feels threatened by Gauff. The inward-looking Pole is always more concerned about her own level of play. Judging from the way she has adjusted to the conditions in Beijing, and the fact that she now has several matches under her belt after taking a break post-US Open, she’s in a good spot.

“I’m just happy to play good tennis and not make too many mistakes and be solid,” Swiatek said after edging Caroline Garcia in three sets on Friday. “For me, I already happy with how that tournament went for me after what I kind of felt after US Open and Tokyo.

Hitting all the right notes 🎶@iga_swiatek | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/Q6HJXFom5s
— wta (@WTA) October 6, 2023

“I’m in a good place, no matter what’s going to happen tomorrow.”

Swiatek, meanwhile, is keeping tabs on Gauff, and knows she’ll be facing an American who is in a completely different place than she was during their first seven matchups. Gauff is now a Grand Slam champion, and believing in herself more than ever before.

“I’m aware of what she’s doing,” Swiatek said. “I know also how she plays, what she’s improved, what she changed. I’m just going to use that information and not overanalyze because I think we’re both good players. Now we just have to kind of both fight.

“I’m sure it’s not going to be an easy match probably. It’s going to be tight. But I just hope I’ll play a good game.”