"Coco Gauff's Stroll to Hotel Sets Stage for Significant Encounter in One-Sided Iga Swiatek Tennis Rivalry"
Rewritten Article:
Coco Gauff is making waves on the clay courts of Madrid and the bustling streets of the Spanish capital. The young American reached the Madrid Open semifinals for the first time with a win over 18-year-old Russian sensation Mirra Andreeva, setting up a rematch with arch-rival Iga Swiatek.
Gauff is aiming for her inaugural final in Madrid, her first clay court singles final since 2022, and her maiden singles clay court title since Rome in 2011. The 21-year-old has shown glimpses of a return to form in Madrid, reaching the last four of a tournament for the first time this year.
This run could yield more than just the title, and when asked to rate her performance, the American was positive. "Probably a nine," she declared in her on-court interview, although her experiences during Monday's power cut stole the limelight.
On Monday, Gauff's post-match interview was abruptly cut off when a widespread power outage hit Spain and Portugal, putting an end to play for the day. Gauff was stuck and shared her struggles: "I was stuck here! The traffic lights weren't working, and the transportation was telling us it wasn't safe. Once the police got on the road to direct traffic, it took two hours to go four miles, and we had to walk the last mile. The day went pretty fast between waiting here, spending the day in the dark, and then around 9 pm, the power came back - but then it was time for us to turn off the lights and go to sleep."
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### In a Madrid power cut-threatened nerve tester, Coco Gauff shows poise on and off the courtIn the heat of Madrid, Gauff's stiff competition comes from Swiatek. Thanks to Jessica Pegula's elimination in the third round, Gauff has a chance to surpass Pegula as the American No. 1 should she reach the final. However, Swiatek's run to the last four means Gauff's hopes of retaking the World No. 2 spot are temporarily on hold. If Gauff manages to lift the title at the weekend, it would mark her first singles title on clay since 2021.
Andreeva, a talented youngster who has had a record-breaking year, made for a tough competitor, but Gauff ultimately pulled ahead in the second set, securing a 7-5, 6-1 victory. "I played really well today," Gauff said after the match. "I was able to stay composed when facing set points, and I was really happy."
Gauff and Andreeva have met before, twice in 2023, in the French Open and US Open, when Gauff came out on top. Andreeva celebrated her 18th birthday on Tuesday, which some may argue was a reality check for the young Russian.
Gauff began the match by conceding her serve, but bounced back swiftly in an action-packed second game that set the tone for the rest of the first set. Eventually, Gauff saved set points and took control by winning the final three games and 13 of the last 15 points to take the first set 7-5.
Swiatek will be the opposition for Gauff, who holds a 2-2 record against her. Although she has turned the tables on Swiatek in their last two encounters, the Pole remains a tough nut to crack, particularly on clay. Gauff lost her initial seven matches to Swiatek, starting back in 2021, but vanquished her in the 2025 United Cup and at the WTA Finals last year.
However, Swiatek is a formidable opponent on the clay courts, already boasting victories on all five occasions the pair have met there. Swiatek is a four-time French Open champion, winning at Roland Garros for three consecutive years, and on each occasion, she defeated Gauff to reach the final. This year, Swiatek has yet to win a title in 2025, but her return to clay appears to have rejuvenated her season.
- Coco Gauff is hoping to secure a first-ever Premier League title in Madrid, her first clay court singles final since 2022, and her maiden singles clay court title since Rome in 2011.
- Despite Jessica Pegula's elimination in the third round, Iga Swiatek remains Gauff's stiff competition, with a chance for Gauff to surpass Pegula as the American No. 1 should she reach the final.
- If Gauff manages to lift the Madrid Open title at the weekend, it would mark her first singles title on clay since 2021.
- Gauff's opponent in the semifinals, Mirra Andreeva, a talented youngster, was a tough competitor, but Gauff ultimately prevailed in the match, winning 7-5, 6-1.
- Andreeva, who turned 18 years old on Tuesday, faced a reality check in her loss to Gauff.
- The final showdown between Gauff and Swiatek will be a nerve-testing battle, as Swiatek is a powerful force on clay, having defeated Gauff in all four of their clay court matches to date.
