Swiatek Swamps Gauff, Ends Streak; Samsonova Upsets Rybakina In Beijing

The Coco Gauff 16-match win streak is over. Iga Swiatek took care of that Saturday in the Beijing 1000 semifinals.

The Polish star played near-flawless tennis in a comprehensive 6-2, 6-3 win over the 19-year-old American.

“I’m really happy with my performance,” Swiatek told the crowd after reaching her first final since July. “It feels like I can play freely again, so I’m really happy. It’s been a while since I felt that way. So I’ll remember for the rest of my career that even though tougher times may come, in your mind, you can always overcome that. And with hard work, you can achieve it.

“I’m happy that I switched my attitude after US Open, and hopefully I’ll be able to keep it for as long as possible.”

Swiatek lost just four points on first serve, never faced a break point, had 17 winners to just six unforced while Gauff managed to win just 39% of second serves.

Swiatek improves to 8-1 against Gauff and he avenges a loss to her at Cincinnati this summer.

In her 20th career final, Swiatek will now face Liudmila Samsonova who continued her dominance over Elena Rybakina with a 7-6(9-7), 6-3 win. The Russian broke at love to win the match in the second.

“I had many chances also to close the set for 6-4, the first one,” Samsonova said to the WTA. “I think I didn’t play so good that game. At the end I was able to finish. I don’t know how, seriously. Maybe just to stay there and try every point to be there during the match.”

Samsonova is now 4-0 against Rybakina as she reaches her 7th career final. She is gunning her 5th career title, first title since 22 Tokyo (d Zheng).

“I think my serve and return will be the key tomorrow because she plays very aggressive on the first shot,” Samsonova said looking ahead to the final. “The key it can be to do it better than her. I will try to push as I did all these matches here. To be really, really aggressive.”

Swiatek is a perfect 2-0 against Samsonova in their tour-level encounters winning earlier this year in Dubai.

She is looking for her 16th career title, first title since Warsaw in July.

“I feel like I’m playing a pretty consistent way throughout the whole season,” said Swiatek. “I already played many finals. It’s not like I’m treating it as a different match. I still want to do the same work.”

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