The stage is set for the second Grand Slam of the season. Top players of the world will compete against each other at Roland Garros from May 26 to June 9. The qualifying matches have already begun on Monday, May 20, and will end on Friday, May 24. And the women’s singles draw is also out! As things look, American tennis star Coco Gauff might just need the help of her compatriot to see off the Polish challenge in the 123rd edition of the tournament.
Currently, Iga Swiatek leads the H2H with Coco Gauff by a 10-1 margin. Swiatek has displayed a dominating brand of tennis whenever she has stepped onto the court against Coco Gauff. Recently, she defeated the American at the 2024 Italian Open by a 6-4,6-3 margin. And as things look like Coco Gauff might just need Danielle Collins’ help to see off the Swiatek challenge in Paris. Iga Swiatek may have to overcome the ‘Danimal’ challenge in the QF to book a spot in the semis. With Collins’ form this year, Gauff may expect the unexpected this time around in Paris.
Iga Swiatek will kick-start her French Open title defence on a 12-match winning streak after completing the Madrid-Rome double. The ‘Queen of Clay’ has won four Grand Slam titles so far in her career. And three among those came at the clay courts of Roland Garros. Surely she’ll be eyeing her fourth when she steps onto the court next time in Paris. Iga Swiatek is set to start her campaign against either a qualifier or a lucky loser in the first round of the tournament.
In the second round, she might face the former world number one Naomi Osaka. While Coco Gauff will take on the qualifier/lucky loser in the first round. Coco Gauff has a possibility of facing Ons Jabeur in the QF. And if everything goes right she might well face Iga Swiatek in the semis of the French Open. In 2022, Swiatek defeated Gauff in the finals of the French Open and a year later Coco Gauff faced a defeat at the hands of the familiar opponent in the QF.
Although Coco Gauff has earlier expressed her desire to play against Iga Swiatek yet again at the French Open. But she the Polish tennis star has been knocking her out of tournaments frequently over the past few years. Gauff strongly believes playing against the best will also make her one of the best!
Two times French Open finalist has high hopes for Coco Gauff
The former world number two, Alex Corretja strongly believes Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka may well like to avoid Coco Gauff in the draw. He said, “If you are Iga or Aryna, I don’t think you like to see her on the side of the draw that is in the semi-finals to you because, you know, it’s such a tough match you need to play before the final.”
Just after losing her SF match against Iga Swiatek in the QF, Coco Gauff was haunted by ‘negative emotions’. She said, “I thought I played well the majority of the match. Against probably anybody else today, I would have won the match.” She heaped praise on the world number one, stating Iga Swiatek is a “great player” Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff are now in the same half of the draw of the 2024 French Open. It will be interesting to see if they yet again crossroads with each other this year. Do you think Coco Gauff can beat Iga Swiatek this time around in the French Open?