Coco Gauff knocked off top seed and World No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland 7–6 (2), 3–6, 6–4 in the Western & Southern Open semifinals on Saturday in Mason, Ohio.
Gauff, 19, advanced to her first WTA 1000 final and defeated Swiatek for the first time in eight meetings, winning in two hours and 50 minutes.
“I knew playing her was going to be tough, nothing was going to be given to me today,” Gauff said afterward. “I took my opportunities when I got them and just fought for every point. I was a little negative in the second set, but I got it back and I was just telling myself, ‘You’re a warrior, you can do this.’”
The seventh-seeded Gauff will face unseeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in Sunday’s final of the Cincinnati-area event.
Gauff had never previously won a set against Swiatek in their seven previous encounters, including a 6–4, 6–2 loss in their last match at the French Open quarterfinals.
Gauff overcame a 5–3 deficit in the opening set and raced to a 4–0 lead in the tiebreak thanks to three unforced errors by Swiatek.
Swiatek fought off three match points in the final game before Gauff closed out the victory.
“Coco, for sure, she played great tennis,” Swiatek said. “I got to check, but I think her first serve was better than most of the matches we played against each other, faster. She played more in, even though she’s risking with that speed.”
Gauff is going for her fifth career WTA singles title and second this month (Washington, D.C.).
Muchova rallied to defeat No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6–7 (4), 6–3, 6–2 in the second semi, a match that lasted two hours and 37 minutes.
Muchova won 75.8 percent of her first serves compared to just 59.6 percent for Sabalenka, who was also beset by 10 double faults.
Muchova advances to her first WTA 1000 final.
