TENNIS
Gauff wants to make history at the French Open
The American will be facing world No. 1 Iga Swiatek on Wednesday for a place in the Roland Garros semifinals.
The United States has seen its tennis players win more Grand Slam tournaments than any other country since the Open Era, but the numbers have been quite poor when it comes to achievements at the French Open in recent history.
The second major of the year has been forbidden territory for Americans, especially in the men’s category, due to their style of play, which suits better faster surfaces.
Serena Williams was the last US player who went all the way in the French tournament in 2015 when she defeated Lucie Safarova in three sets.
Cori Gauff has been the closest American player to repeat Williams’ feat, as she reached the 2022 French Open’s final, although she clearly lost to Iga Swiatek.
Now, the Atlanta native has the chance of redeeming herself by facing the Polish star again in the quarterfinals, although the two-time French Open winner is the favorite to get past Gauff again.
Gauff willing to face Swiatek again
That loss to Swiatek in last year’s Roland Garros final made Gauff want to face Iga even more and the time has finally come.
After defeating Anna-Karolina Schmiedlova on Monday, Gauff admitted that one has to beat the best to be the best, referring to Swiatek.
“I mean, honestly, since last year I have been wanting to play Iga Swiatek, especially at this tournament”, she said.
“I figured that it was going to happen because I figured I was going to do well and she was going to do well. Didn’t know what side of the draw we were going to be on obviously”, the American added.
Gauff also explained that she’s not afraid of facing the best female tennis player of the moment, and takes it as an extra motivation.
“I think it would be almost cowardly to say that I want to not face the noise and not face the challenge. I think that I’m up for it. I have improved a lot since last year, and she has too”.
Coco has played Iga Swiatek six times, losing all of them so far. The Polish great has dropped only nine games in four games, but Gauff seems ready for the challenge.