Coco Gauff issued a major statement and praise on Iga Swiatek’s game after their Rome match as the 2023 US Open champion felt her level against the Pole was so good that she would have probably won that day against anyone else other than the three-time French Open champion while also naming the 22-year-old Pole as “the one to beat” at Roland Garros.
Playing in her second Rome semifinal, 20-year-old Gauff came out playing well and delivering a high-level tennis but two-time Rome champion Swiatek had answers for everything that came her way and ultimately sealed a 6-4 6-3 win.
Early in the first set, Gauff claimed an early break and a 2-0 lead but then missed out on game points in the third game as Swiatek managed to get the break back. A few games later, Gauff saved two consecutive break points in the seventh game but couldn’t do the same two games later as Swiatek went 5-4 up before serving out for the first set in the 10th game.
Down by a set, Gauff kept playing good and competing well against Swiatek but the Pole still earned the first break of the second set in the fifth game. In the seventh game, Gauff had a chance to get the break back but Swiatek managed to save two break points and go 5-3 up before breaking the American again in the ninth game to…
