Swiatek swamps Gauff in RG rout

Iga Swiatek stands one victory away from a fourth title at Roland Garros after defeating Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-4 on Thursday with a commanding performance against the American third seed.

Swiatek will play for her fifth Grand Slam trophy on Saturday against the winner from surprise semi-finalist Italian Jasmin Paolini.

Swiatek beat Gauff in the 2022 final here and took down the Floridian in a 2023 quarter-final; she stands 11-1 in the series, winning their last four meetings in straight sets.

“The second set was tight, we were breaking each other,” the winner said. “I’m happy I didn’t over-think things and kept my concentration.

“I just went for it at the end,” she said after converting on her fourth match point to complete the 97-minute victory.

Swiatek said that something changed in her game in the second round, when she lost her only set of the tournament and saved a match point for the Japanese.

Since that tight moment, she has lost just 14 games in four matches.

“I gained confidence,” I’d say.” she added.

The world No. 1 Pole has won her last 18 matches on clay, tying her 2022 win streak on the surface; she now owns 20 wins on the trot at the French Open, which she won in 2020, 2022 and a year ago.

Gauff, the US Open holder, was overwhelmed in a 37-minute opening set as her forehand errors mounted from the start on the Chatrier showcourt.

The 20-year-old held for 1-0 in the second set but was never able to turn the tide against a relentless opponent who will remain atop the rankings by a comfortable margin over Aryna Sabalenka.