Gauff reveals the essential ingredient to beat Swiatek

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It is often said that to defeat the best players in the world, two conditions must be met: they must not have a good day and you must have a brilliant one. The first was fulfilled this afternoon at the WTA Finals 2024 with a completely out-of-form Iga Swiatek who committed 47 unforced errors in a 19-game match. However, the second condition failed completely, as Coco Gauff also could not claim to perform at her best level to overcome her opponent by 6-3 and 6-4. Nevertheless, she was more reliable in crucial moments, which ultimately led her to victory. Minutes after the triumph, the American shared her thoughts with the WTA microphones courtside.

"Obviously, a win like this always feels good and leaves me with a great sensation," evaluates the youngest of the masters in Riyadh. "When I stepped onto the court, I was very aware of the head-to-head record with Iga. I know it is not the most favorable for me, and that could have taken away some of my confidence. She is always capable of displaying a high level of tennis when we face each other. Today, both of us had challenging moments, there were really tight games with several deuces, but being able to impose my game is what helped me stay strong and move forward. There were surely moments when I didn't succeed, but if there's one thing you need to beat Iga, it's solidity, something I believe I lived up to," acknowledges the Delray Beach native.

Without solidity, facing Swiatek is impossible. This is confirmed by Gauff, who entered the court with a record of 11-1 against the World No. 2. This time, however, her skills overshadowed those of the Polish player. "I guess it was my groundstrokes, in addition to my way of returning," responds Coco when asked about her strongest assets. "In the first set, there was a moment where we strung together three intense games in a row, where we played several outstanding points, some of them on break points. The important thing was not to let that discourage me; I was convinced I would make it at some point. Even in the final games, I missed a few returns, but deep down, I kept telling myself it was okay, that was the way. I was certain that the next point would fall in my favor, until it did," states a woman who is virtually assured a spot in the semifinals.

AMBIANCE OF A BIG MATCH

Finally, Gauff wanted to highlight the atmosphere inside the court, which was particularly intense in the closing stages. The match didn't unfold as expected between the World No. 2 and World No. 3; an impossible feat when both end up committing a total of 80 unforced errors. However, there was no shortage of excitement, uncertainty, fluctuations on both sides, and the feeling that the match could tip in either direction. This energy spread to the audience in Riyadh, who, although not filling the stadium this week, rallied in the final moments to add excitement to the spectacle.

"It means a lot to me to receive this support from the crowd, especially from that corner, where they have been supporting me throughout the match. I appreciate it a lot; I felt there was a very lively atmosphere tonight, thanks also to those who were more in favor of Iga. I enjoy breathing that kind of atmosphere during a tennis match; it makes everything much more thrilling when competing," concluded the American.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Gauff revela el ingrediente imprescindible para vencer a Swiatek