Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, published on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at 7:01 p.m.
For the second time in thirteen confrontations, Coco Gauff beat Iga Swiatek, thus qualifying for the semi-finals of the Riyadh Masters. The Pole will play her place in the last four on Thursday against Jessica Pegula.
Coco Gauff had lost her last eight sets against Iga Swiatek, but the American finally ended the series this Tuesday! At the Masters in Riyadh, the world No. 3 beat the No. 2 for the second time in thirteen confrontations (her only victory until then dating from August 2023 in Cincinnati). She won 6-3, 6-4 in 1h48 and at the same time offered herself a ticket to the semi-finals. This meeting between two of the best players in the world frankly did not reach the heights, between Gauff's 11 double faults and Swiatek's 47 unforced errors. Coco Gauff managed to win the first set by breaking at 3-3 and 5-3, and without having the slightest break point to defend.
Swiatek in danger
In the second, Swiatek started well by taking her opponent's service at 1-1, but the American immediately broke (2-2). The Pole regained the advantage by breaking at 3-3, but once again, she was unable to hold on. Worse still, she completely collapsed and lost the last three games of the match. At 20 years old, Coco Gauff will therefore play her second semi-final in the Masters, but she is not yet assured of first place. For this (and to avoid facing Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals), she will have to beat Barbora Krejcikova on Thursday (1-0 for the Czech in the confrontations, at Roland-Garros in 2021). Iga Swiatek, for her part, will play her place in the last four against Jessica Pegula (6-4 for Swiatek in the confrontations), already eliminated. But the Pole, who has just changed coach by hiring Wim Fissette, will clearly have to raise her level of play.
MASTERS WTA
GROUP B
1- Coco Gauff (USA): 2 victories, 0 defeats, 4 sets won, 0 sets lost gt;gt;gt; QUALIFIED
2- Iga Swiatek (POL): 1 victory, 1 defeat, 2 sets won, 3 sets lost
3- Barbora Krejcikova (RTC): 1 victory, 1 defeat, 3 sets won, 2 sets lost
4- Jessica Pegula (USA): 0 victory, 2 defeats, 0 sets won, 4 sets lost gt;gt;gt; ELIMINATED
