(Cincinnati) Coco Gauff created a surprise on Saturday by eliminating in the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati the world No.1, Iga Swiatek, in three sets 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 6-4 .
The American won the first set in the tiebreaker not without passing three aces and winning 85.7% of the points on her first serve.
But Swiatek turned things around by winning the second 6-3. The Pole waited for the 4th game of this set to pass her first ace and then concluded on a white break to return to Gauff’s level.
In the last set, it was Gauff who broke to lead 4 games to 3 then 5 to 3 on his serve by multiplying the high balls to hinder his opponent.
The American, however, was nervous until the end with in particular a double fault while serving for the match, also letting slip two match points, before prevailing on an unforced error from the Pole.
It’s the second time in a week that Swiatek, 22, has lost in the semifinals after losing to fellow American Jessica Pegula in Montreal.
Gauff, 19 years old and 5th player in the world, wins her first match against the world No.1 in eight games and will face in the final the winner of the match between Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, 2nd world, the Czech later in the evening on Saturday. Karolina Muchova (17th).
