Gauff ‘always wanted to play Swiatek in a final’
Women’s draw
COCO GAUFF believes she was destined to meet Iga Swiatek in the French Open final – although maybe not so early in her career.
Gauff, 18, is through to her first grand slam final where she will take on world No.1 Swiatek today.
The pair know each other through their time in the junior ranks, and almost met in the Roland Garros girls’ final four years ago.
Gauff, who won that title, explained: “I was actually preparing to play her in the final, and then she had a match point against my usual doubles partner, Caty McNally.
“Caty saved a match point against her and I ended up playing Caty in the final.
“I’m really happy to play her specifically because I always wanted to play her in a final, and I knew it was going to happen eventually, even in juniors, just from the way our games were both projecting. I just didn’t think it would happen so soon.”
Swiatek is the clear favourite; the 20-year-old Pole is on a 34-match winning streak and is already a course and distance winner here, having claimed the title in 2020.
Swiatek has won the last eight finals she has appeared in, including five this year in the run-up to Roland Garros.
“I’m just trying to treat these matches as any other matches because it is stressful and I accept that,” the world number one said. “But I want to keep doing the same work.
“I’m also aware sometimes my opponents are stressed so I’m trying to kind of realise that and not panic about my own stress.
“Just kind of treating it as any other match and remembering why I got here and what my strengths are is really helping me.
“So I think it’s all about the mindset and the preparation I have before the match.”