Coco Gauff defeated world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in three sets 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4 Saturday to advance to the Cincinnati Open women’s singles final. Here’s what you need to know:
- The victory marks Gauff’s first win against Swiatek in their career head-to-head.
- With the win, Gauff is into her first WTA 1000 final. Her previous best result in a WTA 1000 event was the semifinal at the Italian Open (2022) and Qatar Open (2023).
- Gauff will play the winner of Karolina Muchova and Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
1st WTA 1000 FINAL 🙌@CocoGauff defeats World No.1 Swiatek 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4 to play for the title on Sunday in Cincinnati. #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/DLtso06RJz
— wta (@WTA) August 19, 2023
Backstory
Coming into Saturday’s match, Gauff lost all seven matches against Swiatek. The 19-year-old American lost all 14 sets to Swiatek.
That changed in the Cincinnati Open semifinal when Gauff took the opening set tiebreaker 7-6 (2) after saving two set points. Swiatek responded in the second set, winning it 6-3.
At 3-3 in the third, Gauff recorded the first service break of the set to go up 4-3. Serving for the match up 5-4, Gauff faced a break point. The teenager staved off the Swiatek break opportunity en route to closing out the match.
Gauff’s final appearance in Cincinnati…
