Coco Gauff turned a 3-11 record on its head as she stunned Madrid Masters holder Iga Swiatek on Thursday, crushing the second seed 6-1, 6-1 in 64 minutes to reach the Spanish final.
Swiatek said she never got started in what turned into a rout as the pair of Grand Slam winners met for the 15th time. The Pole came to the clay court with a huge edge in the series but has now lost her last three to Gauff.
It all fell apart quickly for Swiatek as she failed to win at least three games for the first time since losing to Jelena Ostapenko on grass in Birmingham six years ago.
“Everything kind of collapsed tennis-wise,” Swiatek said after losing 12 of the last 13 games.
“I wasn’t even in the right place with my feet before the shots. I wish I would have moved better.
“It was all pretty much the same from the beginning to the end. I couldn’t really get my level up.”
The winner of five Grand Slam added: “I wasn’t really sure what I had in my toolbox…I didn’t even have a plan B because nothing was working today.
“I didn’t play well (in Madrid) even in these matches that I won.”
Gauff lost only two points on first serve and never faced a break point, ending with 18 winners and a mere four unforced errors. Swiatek had seven winners and 21 unforced.
“I was aggressive and played with margin. Maybe it wasn’t her best level,” Gauff said. “It was just making sure my level stayed the same. In the second, I raised it.”
The knockout came a day after Swiatek struggled to hold on after losing the opening set 6-0 to Madison Keys before finally pulling out a quarter-final win in three sets.
Main photo:- Iga Swiatek leaves court after crushing 1-6,1-6 defeat – by ISF Ltd
