Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American tennis star, is approaching the 2025 French Open with a blend of respect and confidence, particularly when it comes to a potential clash with world No. 2 Iga Swiatek. As the clay-court Grand Slam looms on May 25, Gauff, currently ranked No. 3, shared her thoughts on facing the four-time Roland Garros champion during a press conference in Rome. Her comments reveal a mature perspective, acknowledging Swiatek’s dominance on Parisian clay while refusing to be swayed by her own recent victories over the Polish phenom. With their rivalry heating up, Gauff’s insights offer a glimpse into her mental preparation for one of tennis’s toughest challenges.
Gauff’s 2025 season has been a showcase of her growing prowess. She defended her US Open title in 2024, won Brisbane in January, and reached the Australian Open semifinals, falling to Aryna Sabalenka in a tight three-setter. Her clay campaign has been equally compelling, with a Madrid Open final appearance where she stunned Swiatek 6-1, 6-1, marking her third straight win over the Pole. That victory, one of Swiatek’s worst clay-court losses, propelled Gauff to a career-high No. 2 ranking before she settled at No. 3. Now, as she competes in the Italian Open, Gauff is fine-tuning her game for Roland Garros, where she reached the 2022 final and the 2024 semifinals, both times losing to Swiatek. “Iga has been so successful at Roland Garros,” Gauff said in Rome, “so if I’m going to play her, I’m throwing away the Madrid result and expecting her to play her best tennis.”
Swiatek’s Roland Garros record is formidable—33 wins in 35 matches, with titles in 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Her clay-court mastery, characterized by relentless topspin and pinpoint accuracy, has made her a nightmare for opponents, including Gauff, whom she leads 11-4 in their head-to-head. Swiatek’s 2025 season, however, has been less dominant. Despite quarterfinal runs in every tournament, she hasn’t reached a final since her 2024 French Open triumph, with losses to peaking players like Gauff in Madrid and Elena Rybakina at the United Cup. “Coco played good, but I think it’s on me that I didn’t move well,” Swiatek admitted after Madrid, hinting at struggles with footwork and instinct. Gauff, however, isn’t banking on a repeat performance. “If someone wins a tournament that many times, regardless of what shape they’re in, they can figure out a way to win again,” she said, underscoring her wariness of Swiatek’s ability to elevate her game in Paris.
Their rivalry, now at 15 matches, is one of the WTA’s most compelling. Swiatek dominated early, winning their first seven encounters, including a 6-1, 6-3 rout in the 2022 French Open final. Gauff’s breakthrough came in 2023 at Cincinnati, followed by wins at the 2024 WTA Finals and 2025 United Cup. Her Madrid masterclass, where she won 90% of first-serve points and forced 21 forehand errors from Swiatek, showed her evolving aggression and confidence. “I was aggressive and played with margin,” Gauff said post-Madrid. “I forced her into awkward positions.” Yet, she knows clay favors Swiatek’s heavy groundstrokes and defensive prowess, making a French Open upset a tall order. “I need to find a better way to play her,” Gauff admitted last year, a challenge she’s still refining.
Gauff’s preparation for Roland Garros includes leveraging her athleticism and improving her serve, which has been inconsistent on clay. Her 2024 French Open semifinal loss to Swiatek (6-2, 6-4) highlighted her double-fault issues, but recent matches show progress. Off the court, Gauff’s mental strength is bolstered by her UNICEF work and mentorship from Monica Seles, keeping her grounded. “I’m not focused on the ranking,” she said in Rome, prioritizing consistency over the No. 1 spot. Swiatek, meanwhile, is regrouping in Rome, where she’s the defending champion, aiming to rediscover her clay-court magic.
As the French Open draw nears, a Gauff-Swiatek clash—potentially in the semifinals or final—looms as a blockbuster. Gauff’s bold prediction that their rivalry could break records for most matches played reflects their youth and longevity. “I’m 21, she’s 23, we’re so young,” she said in Madrid. For now, Gauff’s strategy is clear: respect Swiatek’s legacy but play fearless tennis. Whether she can topple the “Queen of Clay” in Paris remains uncertain, but one thing is sure—Coco Gauff is ready to fight.
Leave a Reply