Kim Clijsters Explains How Coco Gauff is Putting Iga Swiatek ‘Out of Balance’ After Latest Defeat
World No.2 Iga Swiatek holds a 11-5 head-to-head record over World No.3 Coco Gauff.
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Coco Gauff, Kim Clijsters, Iga Swiatek (Image via Tennis.com, X/Bastien Fachan, iga archive)
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Iga Swiatek suffered defeat at the hands of Coco Gauff for the fourth consecutive time. Last year in the United Cup, Gauff secured her career’s third win over the Pole in their 14th meeting.
Prior to that win, Gauff also registered a win over her in the round robin stage of the 2024 WTA Finals. It was Gauff who stopped the six-time Grand Slam champion from progressing to the final of the 2025 Madrid Open, where the latter was playing as the defending champion.
In this year’s United Cup semifinals, although Poland got their revenge, Swiatek lost to the American ace 6-4, 6-2. Kim Clijsters, the four-time Grand Slam singles champion, explained during the Love All podcast how Gauff turned things around.
I think what stood out to me the most in their last match-up was the variety in Coco’s game that was really causing Iga a lot of issues. People talk a lot about Coco’s forehand, but she hits such a heavy ball; she doesn’t hit the most winners with her forehands, but the combination of the depth of her forehand, the heavy topspin on a court that I hear has been popping up a little bit more, is hard for somebody like Iga.
Kim Clijsters said
In the final of the United Cup, Poland went past Switzerland to win the title for the first time in their third attempt. They lost the finals of the previous United Cups.
That combination with the backhand, where she can step in, can cause a faster pace… She was using her drop shots a lot. Iga was standing a little bit further behind the baseline; she was constantly looking to step in and look for that dropshot. Coco was really putting Iga out of balance, not giving her a lot of rhythm.
Kim Clijsters added
In the final against Switzerland, Swiatek couldn’t get past Belinda Bencic, and was even handed the bagel in the second set. But Hubert Hurkacz saved Poland by defeating Stan Wawrinka, and later, Poland’s mixed doubles win ensured their first triumph.
Mats Wilander says Iga Swiatek is a sensitive human being when it comes to confidence
Mats Wilander pinpointed a major difference between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. According to the Swede, Swiatek performs better when she has complete belief in herself.
I think that Iga Swiatek, when she’s confident, is an absolute animal. She’s unbelievably good. She believes in herself. But I do think that she’s a very sensitive human being when it comes to confidence. When she doesn’t have the confidence, her tennis is not as good because I think she needs confidence to believe that she’s a great player. I think that if you compare it to Aryna Sabalenka, I think Sabalenka knows that she’s a great player, and you cannot take that away from her, whether she wins matches or loses matches.
Mats Wilander told TNT Sports
Last year, Swiatek struggled a great deal at the start of the season and only made a final when the grass season started. She even failed to reach the finals of the three clay-court tournaments she played as the defending champion, including the Roland Garros, where she lost to eventual runner-up Sabalenka in the semifinals.
But she progressed to the final of the Bad Homburg Open and lost the title to Jessica Pegula. At Wimbledon, then, the 24-year-old ended her trophy drought by double-bageling Amanda Anisimova in the final.
Swiatek lifted two more titles. She beat Jasmine Paolini at the Cincinnati Open and Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Korea Open. At the WTA Finals, then, she failed to grab a spot in the semifinals for the second consecutive time.
Also read: (Video) Daniil Medvedev Gives Priceless Reaction to Stunning Tweener from Amateur at One Point Slam
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