Coco Gauff Dominates Iga Swiatek, Reaches Madrid Open Final

MADRID, Spain — Coco Gauff defeated Iga Swiatek 6-1, 6-1 on Thursday to reach her first Madrid Open final. The match lasted just 64 minutes and marked Gauff’s first win against the defending champion on clay.

Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, will now face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final on Saturday. Sabalenka secured her place by beating Elina Svitolina in the other semifinal.

This victory was significant for Gauff, as a win in the finals would elevate her to a career-high world ranking of No. 2, surpassing Swiatek.

Swiatek, who previously had an 11-1 record against Gauff, struggled throughout the match. After holding serve in the first game, she lost 11 consecutive games, showcasing an unexpected performance. Gauff dominated on her serve, winning 90% of her first serves and never facing a break point.

According to the WTA, Swiatek has only lost fewer games in a clay match once before: a 6-1, 6-0 defeat against Simona Halep in 2019. “I think I was aggressive and played with margin,” said Gauff after the match. “Maybe it wasn’t her best level today, but I forced her into some awkward positions.”

Gauff’s recent success has changed the dynamic of their rivalry, as she has now won three consecutive matches against Swiatek. “Today, for sure, everything kind of collapsed,” Swiatek stated, reflecting on her performance. This defeat was particularly painful for Swiatek, who has now lost six straight semifinals and has not reached a final since winning the 2024 French Open.

“I wish I would have moved better because I think that would have given me opportunities to bounce back,” Swiatek added.

Gauff is searching for her third WTA 1000 title, having previously won in Cincinnati and China. The match against Sabalenka will bring both players to the brink of a prestigious title in one of the biggest tournaments on the circuit.