Gauff Finally Solves Swiatek, Will Face Muchova For Cincinnati Masters Title

After seven losses including 14 straight sets, Coco Gauff finally got a win over Iga Swiatek, and it came today in the Cincinnati Masters semifinals in a thriller 7-6(7-2), 3-6, 6-4.

“She’s a four-time Slam champ, No. 1,” Gauff said. “It shows that I can be at that level or compete with that level at least.

“I’m sure I’m going to play her many more times. I’m not going to maybe win every time, but I think this win shows me that I have the possibility to do it.

Gauff came in as the underdog but had been much-improved this summer under new coach Brad Gilbert. Gilbert led Andy Roddick to a similar sensational summer 20 years ago capping with a US Open title, and now he’s instilled the grip-and-rip attitude with Gauff.

Today, the teen pounded her first serve often reaching into the 120s, and the speed and accuracy troubled Swiatek. And the shaky forehand has been much better of late for Gauff who has also upped the voltage on her groundstrokes.

But early on, Swiatek was still in control, twice leading by a break but she couldn’t hold it as errors plagued the Polish star, many caused by Gauff’s power.

Once Gauff got to the breaker, she cruised with her booming serve and footspeed.

In the second, though, Gauff went back to her defensive mindset and Swiatek stepped in and rolled to force a third.

With Gauff playing aggressive again, she would break at 3-all and then hang on in the end for one of her biggest, if not the biggest, win of her career.

“Coco’s a great player, this one she deserved it more,” Swiatek said. “She played great tennis. I got to check, but I think her 1st serve was better than most of the matches we played against each other, faster. She played more in, even though she’s risking with that speed.

“Overall I’m very happy with these 3 tournaments that I played, Warsaw, Montreal and here,” she said.

“For sure there are things that I want to work on. It’s always like that when you lose. But today I fought till the end. That’s something that I should be proud of.”

Gauff, who is 10-1 this summer under Gilbert, will play for her biggest career title Sunday against Karolina Muchova.

The Czech dispatched No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka from a set down 6-7(4-7), 6-3, 6-2. Muchova lost five points on first serve the last two sets and never faced a break point.

“Similar to what we played few months back in Paris I would say, it could go both ways,” Muchova said to the WTA. “It was just pure fight. I’m glad that I got through. Yeah, to be in my first 1000 final, it’s great achievement, and I’m really pleased with that.”

The win also puts her into the Top 10.

“I think I was even outside of 200 end of the last year, so it’s incredible,” Muchova said. “I mean, I always was hoping and believing that I can be up there, but you never know.

“In the past, my health was a big issue. It always stopped me. Yeah, I’m just really, really pleased how it’s going. To be in top 10, I can say it for rest of my life that I was top 10 tennis player from all of the people. It’s great achievement.”

Muchova advances her 4th career final. She is seeking her 2nd career title, first title since 2019 Seoul (d Linette).

Gauff is in her 6th career final, she is eyeing her 5th career title.

Both players — who are also the last two French Open finalists — will meet for the first time.

“I don’t think we even ever practiced together,” Muchova said of the matchup with Gauff. “I know she is a great mover. Powerful, again. I saw some rallies today when she played Iga. Very, very tough. Like every round here, it’s very tough. I’m looking forward to that.

“I think just the experience that I played a final is great, to have that, to know how to handle some situations. Yeah, I hope that will help me tomorrow. This is just my second final, so I’ll try to bring it on tomorrow, what I’ve learned in Paris, too. Yeah, try to maybe improve tomorrow. We’ll see.”

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