GAUFF’S DELIGHT AS SHE FACES SWIATEK

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.”

An eye-catching final has mercifully emerged from the wreckage of a women’s tournament which saw nine of the top 10 seeds eliminated before the end of the first week.

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.

Gauff, it seems, has a free swing as she bids to become the youngest American grand slam champion since her idol, Serena Williams, won the US Open in 1999.

“I think that version

(of me) was ready to win a slam, but I think she almost wanted it too much, that she put way too much pressure on herself,” Gauff added.

“Now I’m definitely ready to win one but I’m not putting pressure on myself to win one. I think there’s a fine line between believing in yourself and almost pushing yourself too much.”

Swiatek has won the last eight finals she has appeared in, including five this year in the run-up to Roland Garros.

The world No 1 said: “Just kind of treating it as any other match and remembering why

I got here and what my strengths are is really helping me.”