Iga Swiatek plays mind games with Coco Gauff after refusing to give her credit for the United Cup final loss
Coco Gauff helped Team USA win their second United Cup with a 6-4, 6-4 win over World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the final.
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Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff ((Images via X)
World No. 2 Iga Swiatek has been in stunning form in the ongoing Australian Open. She has already bageled her opponents twice, winning her three matches easily in straight sets.
Nearly two weeks ago, Swiatek had succumbed to a straight-set defeat to Coco Gauff, another contender for the Happy Slam title. They met in the final of the United Cup where Gauff’s win and later compatriot Taylor Fritz‘s win over Hubert Hurkacz helped Team USA clinch the United Cup for the second time.
Swiatek, following her 6-1, 6-0 triumph over Emma Raducanu in the third round, was asked if the result would’ve been different had she performed like this against the World No.3.
I feel like I’m playing good you know but for sure, I couldn’t give 100% in that match with Coco. Obviously, she earned it and she played nice and aggressive. But I couldn’t really move much because everything hurt me. So I would like to play with Coco again when I’m more fit and ready to run because, against her, you need to be physically ready.
Iga Swiatek said at the press conference
Swiatek is 11-3 in their head-to-head meeting but it was the 2023 US Open champion who won their last two clashes, at the 2024 WTA Finals and the United Cup.
Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff could meet in Australian Open final
In the ongoing tournament, there’s a possibility of Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff meeting in the final. After beating Emma Raducanu, Swiatek has scheduled a clash with lucky loser Eva Lys in the fourth round.
If the 23-year-old beats the German, then she will meet either Emma Navarro or Daria Kasatkina in the quarterfinals. The Pole then could face 2023 Australian Open finalist Elena Rybakina in the semifinals.
Coco Gauff, on the other hand, defeated Sofia Kenin, Jodie Anna Burrage, and Leylah Fernandez to set up a clash with Belinda Bencic in the fourth round. A win would mean she will lock horns with Paula Badosa or Olga Danilovic in the quarterfinals.
Gauff would then have to upset two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the last four to reach her first Australian Open final.
Both Gauff and Swiatek are chasing their first Australian Open title. The American reached the semifinals last year, while the five-time Grand Slam champion, who made it to the last four in 2022, failed to progress to the quarterfinals in 2023 and 2024.
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Gouri Das
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