Roland Garros 2024 Ladies SF - [1] Swiatek v [3] Gauff

[Aussie Darcy]

Deserves a thread and poll.

#1 Swiatek is the 2x defending champ here and 4x slam champ.
#3 Gauff is the reigning USO champ.

The two played the final here 2 years ago with Swiatek easily winning 6-1 6-3.

The pair have played 11 times with Swiatek crushing the H2H 10-1.

They played in the SF of Rome 2 weeks ago with Iga winning 6-4 6-3.
Before that was the WTA Finals Group stage with Iga taking it 6-0 7-5.
Beijing late last year, Iga won 6-2 6-3.
And then the previous one was the lone victory for Coco which was in Cincy with Gauff prevailing 7-6 3-6 6-4.

So who you got?

 

[dking68]

Easy - the American over the Pole in three

 

[spystud]

8 am my time is about as bad as gets for me. Hopefully it's entertaining for the rest of you kids though.

 

[insideguy]

Any other close matches between the two other than Coco's win?

 

[roysid]

With swiatek its easy on clay. She rolls over her opponents.
Unless her opponent plays lights out attacking tennis like Osaka in second round. Gauff has a chance if she plays like that

 

[Arak]

Gauff has no chance whatsoever, in theory at least. I will be rooting for her anyway. If we learned anything from yesterday, it’s that nothing is impossible. I hope she will prove herself as a real champion and give Swiatek a really good fight.

 

[Pheasant]

It’s going to take a lot for Gauff just to take a set off of Swiatek. Iga is dialed in now. I predict 6-4, 7-5 Swiatek

 

[Kralingen]

My commute when I take the train door to door is about 35 mins during rush hour.

If I leave at the start, I fully expect Swiatek to be up a set and a break by the time I get to the office.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

My commute when I take the train door to door is about 35 mins during rush hour.

If I leave at the start, I fully expect Swiatek to be up a set and a break by the time I get to the office.

I feel so sure and cocky that Swiatek will thrash her. Which is starting to make me worry i'm going to jinx it and be stunned.

I was going to say in the WTA thread we might see another double bagel in a slam final (aka Graf v Zvereva 1988 French final) when Iga faces either Andreeva or Paolini.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Any other close matches between the two other than Coco's win?

Not really.

Swiatek dominated Gauff from the start not dropping a set in their first 7 matches. Those matches also featured 2 bagels and 2 breadsticks. Gauff has never won a set against Iga except for the 1 match she won against her.

Their H2H:
2021 Rome SF – Swiatek - 7-6 (3), 6-3
2022 Miami R16 – Swiatek - 6-3, 6-1
2022 Roland-Garros Final – Swiatek - 6-1, 6-3
2022 San Diego QF – Swiatek - 6-0, 6-3
2022 WTA Finals RR – Swiatek - 6-3, 6-0
2023 Dubai SF – Swiatek - 6-4, 6-2
2023 Roland-Garros QF – Swiatek - 6-4, 6-2
2023 Cincinnati SF - Gauff - 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4
2023 Beijing SF – Swiatek - 6-2, 6-3
2023 WTA Finals RR – Swiatek - 6-0, 7-5
2024 Rome SF – Swiatek - 6-4, 6-3

 

[Pheasant]

I feel so sure and cocky that Swiatek will thrash her. Which is starting to make me worry i'm going to jinx it and be stunned.

I was going to say in the WTA thread we might see another double bagel in a slam final (aka Graf v Zvereva 1988 French final) when Iga faces either Andreeva or Paolini.

That final is going to be ugly. At least Coco has some wicked fire power and that great movement to trouble the best players. She’s not nearly as polished as Iga. But she’s dangerous. That why I think that she can at least keep the sets competitive.

But somebody like Paolini with her 97 mph first serves, 70 mph 2nd serves, and so-so movement will get steamrolled by Iga 6-1, 6-2 every time and twice on Sunday.

 

[coolcamden]

1-11

 

[Aussie Darcy]

That final is going to be ugly. At least Coco has some wicked fire power and that great movement to trouble the best players. She’s not nearly as polished as Iga. But she’s dangerous. That why I think that she can at least keep the sets competitive.

But somebody like Paolini with her 97 mph first serves, 70 mph 2nd serves, and so-so movement will get steamrolled by Iga 6-1, 6-2 every time and twice on Sunday.

And people wonder why i'm disappointed by the results from last night. Kudos to the two women for getting through of course but it's not at all going to be fun to watch.

 

[zvelf]

So what can Gauff do to beat Swiatek besides hoping Iga has an off day? Swiatek just has to hammer Coco's forehand and second serves, but I don't know how Gauff exploits Swiatek's game.

 

[Pheasant]

And people wonder why i'm disappointed by the results from last night. Kudos to the two women for getting through of course but it's not at all going to be fun to watch.

I was extremely disappointed too. I couldn’t believe how terribly Rybakina played. At one point during that match, the unforced errors were 20 for Rybakina and 1 for Paolini(per Tennis Channel). Rybakina committed a mind-blowing 48 unforced errors in that match.

Sabalenka was battling something. She was either injured or sick. She wasn’t herself. She kept clutching at her stomach. So I get why she lost. But still. I was a bit disappointed with this side of the bracket.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Hard to see Gauff winning here, but she's a great player so if Iga isn't playing her A game, who knows? Hard to see past a straight sets win for Iga otherwise.

 

[Krish872007]

I would love nothing more than a Gauff win here, but there's a 1% chance of that happening given how solid Swiatek is

 

[spystud]

Bump, little over 4 hours.

 

[McEncock]

My heart says Goff in 3
My brain says Swiat in 2

 

[Krish872007]

I was extremely disappointed too. I couldn’t believe how terribly Rybakina played. At one point during that match, the unforced errors were 20 for Rybakina and 1 for Paolini(per Tennis Channel). Rybakina committed a mind-blowing 48 unforced errors in that match.

Sabalenka was battling something. She was either injured or sick. She wasn’t herself. She kept clutching at her stomach. So I get why she lost. But still. I was a bit disappointed with this side of the bracket.

She's said it was a stomach bug that she had been trying to manage for the last few days. Explains why she kept doubling over in pain / discomfort.
As for Rybakina, seems like it was just bad play. So unfortunate and disappointing all round.

Swiatek has done well to avoid any similar afflictions and should steamroll the remainder of the tournament if she can keep her level going.

 

[Krish872007]

Not really.

Swiatek dominated Gauff from the start not dropping a set in their first 7 matches. Those matches also featured 2 bagels and 2 breadsticks. Gauff has never won a set against Iga except for the 1 match she won against her.

Their H2H:
2021 Rome SF – Swiatek - 7-6 (3), 6-3
2022 Miami R16 – Swiatek - 6-3, 6-1
2022 Roland-Garros Final – Swiatek - 6-1, 6-3
2022 San Diego QF – Swiatek - 6-0, 6-3
2022 WTA Finals RR – Swiatek - 6-3, 6-0
2023 Dubai SF – Swiatek - 6-4, 6-2
2023 Roland-Garros QF – Swiatek - 6-4, 6-2
2023 Cincinnati SF - Gauff - 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4
2023 Beijing SF – Swiatek - 6-2, 6-3
2023 WTA Finals RR – Swiatek - 6-0, 7-5
2024 Rome SF – Swiatek - 6-4, 6-3

What does Gauff need to change in order to be more competitive in this rivalry?

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

Gauff winning would be a more interesting outcome for the tour, but I can't see how it could happen, here, on Iga's land. Coco could perhaps get one or two wins against Iga on grass or US HC but not here. She played a great match in Rome and couldn't take a set.

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

What does Gauff need to change in order to be more competitive in this rivalry?

She would need a way, way better FH. That's arguably her biggest weakness and while her strengths can make up for it against the rest of the tour, it gets exposed extremely badly against Iga's FH, which is super precise and lethal when the Pole is not rushed and has time to settle and really plant her feet in the ground. Because Coco is more of a counterpuncher than an aggressive ballbasher like Sabalenka, Rybakina, Ostapenko, Iga has all the time she needs in rallies and can pull the trigger at will, while not making lots of UEs and staying in long rallies (Coco's defensive qualities often rely on making her opponent missing in the end). Really a nightmare matchup for the American which is clearly reflected by the H2H.

Similarly I think Iga wouldn't have much problems on clay or slow HC against players like peak Halep or Wozniacki. She would make them visit the court while dictating the play with her FH.

 

[Carax]

Anything other than Iga in 2 would be a surprising outcome.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Poll closes in under 30 mins so get ya votes in

 

[Al Czervik]

+550 on Coco is tempting me. I'm trying to delude myself into believing she can win this match with insane defense.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Swiatek has actually spent more time on court even with that super fast match against Potapova.
7 hours 13 mins for Iga.
Gauff with 6 hours 54 minutes.

 

[Krish872007]

Anyone else rooting for Gauff here?

 

[Lozo1016]

I give Gauff about a 20% chance of winning. I expect it to look like the other Iga-Coco matches, but maybe Coco can surprise me!

 

[Kralingen]

The only thing worth watching here is if Gauff can win 6 games. She won’t get even close to taking a set from Iga and you may as well forget about the match.

 

[GAS]

This match obviously on Swiatek's racquet. But the more Gauff can keep it close, the closer the match will be. Swiatek is a momentum player and has trouble in matches where she doesn't build that momentum.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

This really feels like the final. Especially when you consider the finalist from the other half will either be…. Paolini or Andreeva.

Meanwhile this is the reigning French champ vs the US Open champ. #1 v #3, insanely different half of the draw compared to ”that” bottom half.

 

[Pheasant]

This is the championship. The winner of the other section will get dusted.

Man. 0-30 already. Yikes

 

[Krish872007]

This really feels like the final. Especially when you consider the finalist from the other half will either be…. Paolini or Andreeva.

Meanwhile this is the reigning French champ vs the US Open champ. #1 v #3, insanely different half of the draw compared to ”that” bottom half.

In retrospect, the match with Osaka felt like the Final lol.

 

[ultimathule]

If Coco serves well (first serve percentage 65 or better), she'll squeak out a win.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Oh man stunning point there and it’s double break points!

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Gauff just too many errors and Swiatek breaks to start the match lol

 

[Pheasant]

Wow!!! 119 mph serve by Gauff and Swiatek returned it with interest.

 

[Krish872007]

She's already well inside Gauff's head, quite evident from that last shot.

 

[GAS]

Not a good start... Gauff playing like she needs to play 150% of her ability and that never works.

 

[ibbi]

Coco trying her best to do what she has to do - Be aggressive. Alas, on the evidence of that, we see why she doesn't do it more consistently.

 

[Pheasant]

Per Tennis Channel, Swiatek is 33-2 in her first 35 matches at the FO. That’s the 2nd best all time for a start(Evert 34-1).

 

[Legend of Borg]

Osaka was the real final.

 

[TheGoldenEra1990’s]

LOL gauff. She’s gonna get whalloped

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Gauff striking hard on Swiatek’s service game so far. Iga still up 30-15 but Coco is showing she is not Potapova or Vondrousova.

Some nice rallies already.

 

[Pheasant]

Come on, Gauff. Terrible shot at the net. Should be 15-30. But I like Gauff’s aggressive approach.

 

[Krish872007]

Per Tennis Channel, Swiatek is 33-2 in her first 35 matches at the FO. That’s the 2nd best all time for a start(Evert 34-1).

Crazy stat. Evert's overall clay stats cannot be toppled easily (10 clay Slams, 70 clay titles, 189-1 win loss record for 8 years), though Iga may well overtake her in number of RG titles.

 

[Pheasant]

Wow!!! Gauff is crushing the ball! Deuce!!

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Break back point Coco!

 

[Pheasant]

Crazy stat. Evert's overall clay stats cannot be toppled easily (10 clay Slams, 70 clay titles, 189-1 win loss record for 8 years), though Iga may well overtake her in number of RG titles.

I loved Chrissy growing up. She really was fun to watch.