Iga defeated the French world number 9 Caroline Garcia 6-7 (8), 7-6 (5), 6-1 in over two and a half hours and will face the young American Coco Gauff for a place in the final.
Iga Światek had to struggle like a lioness for close to two hours and forty minutes on Friday to make it past the French Caroline Garcia at the quarter-finals of the China Open. The Pole will have to be at her best against phenomenal young talent Coco Gauff in order to validate her ticket to the final.
The world number 9 made her intentions clear early on in this month-watering confrontation. Both players went remained toe-to-toe across the first set. Eventually, it was the French who heroically sealed the tie-break, 10 points to 8.
The second set was not less tight. Iga played aggressively and seemed clode to turning the tide. But once again, the outcome of the set had to be decided in the tie-break. This time, it was the Varsovian who found the key at the most clutch moment and equalised to one set all with 7/6 (5).
The third set was actually one-sided. The world number 2 having regained full confidence, she cruised through the third set and lost only one game in doing so, 6-1.
Made of steel ⛓️@iga_swiatek overcomes a determined Garcia 6-7(8), 7-6(5), 6-1 to reach her 11th semifinal of the year! #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/4IIu4bW7Of
— wta (@WTA) October 6, 2023
Iga Świątek is now at 128 wins in just two seasons, which is the record among Polish tennis players. The former leader of the WTA ranking will face Coco Gauff in the semi-final on Saturday at 5am (UK time). Świątek will try to make it to the big final, where she could face the current leader of the charts, Aryna Sabalenka, who took her spot last month.
Iga Swiatek says she feels like she’s going in the right direction:
“I just feel like I'm going in the right direction. All of these wins mean that I'm one of the top players in the world. It's great to feel that. It's great to have the effect of all your work. You kind of feel… pic.twitter.com/7nuFnbcRWb
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 6, 2023
Image: X (@UniversTennis)
Author: Sébastien Meuwissen
