Tennis world No. 2 Iga Swiatek downs third-ranked Coco Gauff to stay unbeaten at WTA Finals

CANCUN – World No. 2 Iga Swiatek was pleased with her “problem-solving” after she defeated the third-ranked Coco Gauff 6-0, 7-5 in a showdown of Grand Slam champions on Wednesday in a group-stage match at the WTA Finals.

Pole Swiatek, the French Open winner and a four-time Grand Slam champion, took only 89 minutes to dispatch 19-year-old American Gauff, who won the US Open in October.

“In the second set, obviously, it got more tight,” the 22-year-old said. “I was happy I stayed focused. I had plenty of chances in her first service games to break back, but I knew somehow I would use one of those chances.”

The victory also boosted Swiatek’s chances of overtaking Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka for the year-end world No. 1 ranking at the season-ending outdoor hard-court event in Mexico.

Sabalenka would clinch the year-end top spot by reaching Sunday’s final.

Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur beat Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-3 in a rematch of the Wimbledon final in the night’s other group-stage match.

The result meant Swiatek has not clinched a semi-final berth, despite her 2-0 start.

In windy conditions, Gauff hit only five winners compared to 30 unforced errors, while Swiatek hit 11 winners and had 23 unforced errors.

“I would say this match wasn’t consistent, in terms of the level,” Swiatek said. “So for sure adjusting to everything that happened was the most important thing.”

Swiatek, a three-time Roland Garros champion and 2022’s US Open winner, improved to 9-1 all-time against Gauff, whose only triumph in the rivalry came in August’s Cincinnati semi-finals ahead of her first Major title at New York.

Swiatek, the 2022 year-end No. 1, also beat Gauff in their most recent meeting in October at a Beijing semi-final but the American teen was nursing a right shoulder injury.

Gauff failed to become the first teen to win multiple matches at a WTA Finals since Serb Ana Ivanovic in 2007.

She netted a forehand to surrender the first break in the opening set, and Swiatek smashed a backhand shot on the baseline to break again at love for a 4-0 edge.

Swiatek hit a backhand volley winner for another break to claim the first set in 27 minutes.

Gauff broke for a 2-1 lead in the second set when Swiatek hit a forehand volley wide, her third unforced error of the game, and Gauff held in a dramatic 12-minute sixth game for a 4-2 edge.

Serving for the set, however, Gauff made four double faults in a row and was broken to 5-5, and was then broken again by Swiatek in the final game, netting a forehand volley on the final point.

“I’m happy that I could actually problem-solve a little the way to win these last games,” Swiatek said. “The key was maybe being confident and mentally not focusing on the score, but really just sticking with the plan that worked in the first set.”

Meanwhile, an emotional Jabeur said she was donating part of her WTA Finals prize money to help Palestinians after her first win at the tournament in Cancun on Wednesday.

In the post-match interview, she fought back tears as she spoke about the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

“I am very happy with the win but I haven’t been very happy lately. The situation in the world doesn’t make me happy,” the three-time Grand Slam finalist said.

“So I feel like... I am sorry,” Jabeur said as she took a moment to regain composure.

“It’s very tough seeing children and babies dying every day. It’s heartbreaking. I have decided to donate part of my prize money to help the Palestinians. I can’t be happy with this win.”

“It is not a political message, it is humanity,” she added. “I want peace in this world. That’s it.”

The 29 year-old will face Swiatek in the last group-stage match as she tries to reach the top four of the WTA Finals for the first time in her career, after a group-stage elimination in 2022. AFP, REUTERS