ESPN News Services June 7, 2023 9:50 p.m. 2 minute read
Leader Iga Swiatek kept her French Open title defense on track with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Coco Gauff to reach the semifinals on Wednesday.
In a repeat of last year’s final, Swiatek recorded another straight-set victory over the American as she chases her third trophy at the clay-court major.
19-year-old Gauff lost 7-0 to Swiatek and the Floridian is yet to concede a set against her. Swiatek, a 22-year-old Pole, won last year’s final 6-1, 6-3.
In the semifinals, Swiatek meets Beatriz Haddad Maia, who scored another comeback win by beating Ons Jabeur 3-6 7-6(5) 6-1, becoming the first Brazilian since 1968 to win a Grand- Reached the Slam semifinals.
Swiatek claimed the first break of the game but allowed Gauff to hit back and equalize the first set with a volley into the net to make it 3-3. Swiatek got back on track with a superb crosscourt winner, which she celebrated with a clenched fist and a loud yell.
“It wasn’t easy,” said Swiatek, the first player since Conchita Martinez in 1995 to lose 15 games or fewer en route to the semifinals in Paris. “Especially the first sentence. It was tight and Coco made good use of the conditions so I was happy to win. The quarter-finals are sometimes the toughest games.”
“Today was a closer game. I’ll be ready for the next one.”
In the second set, Swiatek fell at the net after almost being hit by a Gauff rocket before clinging to a 2-1 lead and securing another break with a perfectly placed lob.
She decided the fight by launching again at Gauff’s serve and ended the win when the 19-year-old hit the net.
The Associated Press and Portal contributed to this report.