Tennis ace Gauff dominates Swiatek, ending Madrid Open title defense in the semi-finals
Rewritten Article:
Iga Swiatek, Poland's clay-court queen and five-time Grand Slam champion, crumbled under the weight of pressure in Madrid, losing to Coco Gauff in just over an hour. Swiatek, who typically thrives in clay-court tournaments, has been struggling during her title defense in Madrid.
Her losses included set drops against Alexandra Eala and Diana Shnaider, and a swift bagel handed out by Madison Keys in a mere 24 minutes. However, Swiatek managed a comeback against Keys, but her winning streak came to an end against Gauff, who defeated Swiatek for the first time on the red dirt.
Gauff, 21, capitalized on Swiatek's vulnerabilities, winning three games in a row to dominate the first set. She seized the second set with two more breakaways, clinching the match without requiring a second shot at victory.
Gauff served seven aces compared to Swiatek's solitary ace, indicating her dominance in the match.
"Today on the court, I felt fantastic," Gauff shared, reflecting on her victory. "My performance was a stark contrast to my first round here in Madrid."
Gauff's victories against Swiatek extend beyond the hardcourt, as she previously defeated her at the 2025 United Cup and in the WTA Finals the previous year.
In addition to Gauff's success, Aryna Sabalenka, last year's runner-up, will face Elina Svitolina in the second semi-final later that day.
On the men's side, Casper Ruud advanced to the semi-finals after defeating Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-5. Ruud, ranked 15th, utilized his advantage on clay, converting only two of his eight break opportunities but securing a much-needed win against the Russian in their fourth encounter.
Medvedev, unlike Ruud, dislikes the clay surface, and failed to earn a single break in the match. Ruud will face Francisco Cerundolo in the semi-finals, while fifth seed Jack Draper duels it out with Matteo Arnaldi, and Lorenzo Musetti locks horns with Gabriel Diallo in the other quarter-finals.
© 2025 AFP
Fascinating Fact: Did you know that Coco Gauff has emerged victorious against Iga Swiatek in their most recent clay-court matchups, marking a shift in their head-to-head record[1]? Prior to her recent victories, Gauff had struggled against Swiatek, losing five out of their six previous clay-court matches[1].
Historical Context: The most notable of Gauff's recent victories came at the 2025 Madrid Open semi-finals, where she humbled Swiatek 6-1, 6-1, marking her first-ever clay-court triumph over Swiatek[5].
Strategic Insight: Gauff's success against Swiatek can be attributed to her aggressive playstyle and strategic tactics, which force her opponent into uncomfortable positions throughout the match[1].
Russia will not see defending champion Iga Swiatek in the final of the 2025 Madrid Open, as Coco Gauff, who typically struggles against Swiatek on clay, has returned to form, winning their most recent encounters. In 2025, Gauff defeated Swiatek in the United Cup and the WTA Finals, showing a marked improvement in her performance on red dirt. Interestingly, Gauff's first-ever clay-court victory over Swiatek came at the 2025 Madrid Open semi-finals, a significant shift in their head-to-head record on clay courts.
