Gauff’s pain as she falls short again

CoCo Gauff is one of the most recognisable faces in women’s tennis, but the gulf between her and the very top remains wide.

Iga Swiatek gave a reminder of that when the world No 1 scored her seventh straight-sets win out of seven over the american, reaching the semi-finals here with a 6-4, 6-2 victory. World No 6 Gauff had nothing to be ashamed of yesterday in this repeat of last year’s final, with the defending champion looking fairly untouchable on the clay. The american admitted she is frustrated at failing to make the breakthrough many would like to see and was slightly tearful. Gauff, 19, said: ‘When you lose to someone seven times, you feel crappy. It’s not fun at all. Every time I play her, I’m not thinking about the previous record. But when it’s over it does suck.’ She is already looking forward to Wimbledon, adding: ‘It’s a special tournament, I’m excited.’ Swiatek will now meet Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, who upset last year’s Wimbledon finalist ons Jabeur 3-6, 7-6, 6-1. aryna Sabalenka will face unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova in today’s other semi-final. Meanwhile, alexander Zverev is back in the Roland Garros men’s semi-finals — 12 months after being taken off Court Philippe Chatrier in a wheelchair.

The rangy German suffered a horrendous injury while playing Rafael Nadal in the last four, tearing ankle ligaments in a freak fall. Surgery then ended his season, but after returning in australia he made it back to the semi-finals in Paris yesterday by beating argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

‘It was the most difficult year of my life,’ said Zverev, 26. ‘I love tennis and it was taken away and I can’t be happier to be back in the semi-finals.’ at Surbiton’s Lexus Challenger andy Murray made it through to the quarter-finals by beating Bu Yunchaokete of China 7-6, 6-4.