Coco Gauff relishing Iga Swiatek semi-final in Dubai, plans to 'go out there swinging and believing' against world No. 1
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Published 24/02/2023 at 08:45 GMT
Will it be sixth time lucky for Coco Gauff against Iga Swiatek when they meet in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships semi-finals? Gauff has lost all five previous meetings against the world No. 1 without winning a set, but says there is "no pressure" and "ranking is just a number" as they prepare to meet again. Barbora Krejcikova is aiming for "revenge" after Jessica Pegula in the other semi.
Swiatek has to 'work on how to handle pressure' - Radwanska
Coco Gauff plans to “go out there swinging” and “believing” she can win when she faces red-hot world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships semi-finals.
Swiatek has been in stunning form over the last two weeks, winning the Qatar Open for the loss of just five games and crushing Leylah Fernandez and Liudmila Samsonova so far in Dubai.
She has won all five previous meetings in straight sets against Gauff, including at last year’s WTA Finals and the 2022 French Open final.
But Gauff is not dwelling on the one-sided head-to-head record.
“All five times, I did something wrong!” she said ahead of her sixth meeting with Swiatek on Friday.
“To be honest, she's playing great tennis and there's a reason she's world No.1. Tomorrow I have no pressure. I just have to play my game - I definitely think I've gotten better since the last time I played her.
“Ranking is just a number at the end of the day. You just have to step on the court believing you can win, and that's what I'm going to do tomorrow."
Gauff, 18, has not dropped a set in two matches in Dubai and beat fellow American Madison Keys 6-2 7-5 to reach the semi-finals.
Swiatek had a bye into the last four after her scheduled opponent Karolina Pliskova withdrew due to illness.
“She’s playing at the top of her game,” Gauff said about Swiatek.
“It’s going to be a challenge. But, to be honest, I think it’s a good matchup just to see where I can maybe improve on.
“I’m just going to go out there swinging. Whatever happens, happens. You just kind of have to go in believing you can win even when the odds seem stacked against you.”
Gauff is now in her fifth season on the WTA Tour after bursting onto the scene at Wimbledon in 2019 when she reached the fourth round.
She took another stride forward last year as she made her first Grand Slam final and reached a career-high No. 4 in the rankings.
She’s now the first player since 2009 to make two different WTA 1000 semi-finals before turning 19.
But although the signs may point to Gauff being the future of the tour, she does not see herself that way.
“I never label myself that,” she said. “I always said I just want to be the best that I can be.
“It definitely adds pressure to it, especially when you have these losses, people say things about you, the rest of your life. I have to remind myself I think I have a long career ahead of me.
“There’s ups and downs and you have to just wait for your moment and keep working hard for that moment.”
The other Dubai semi-final sees Jessica Pegula face Barbora Krejcikova.
Former French Open winner Krejcikova ended Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka’s perfect start to the season with a 0-6 7-6(2) 6-1 victory.
Pegula beat Krejcikova just a month ago in straight sets in the fourth round of the Australian Open.
“I’m looking forward for the revenge,” said Krejcikova.
“I definitely want to just go there again and just enjoy the match, just fight for every single ball. If I’m able to do that, I think I definitely have a chance."
Pegula had a walkover into the semi-finals after scheduled opponent Karolina Muchova pulled out of the tournament. Australian Open runner-up Elena Rybakina also withdrew earlier in the week.
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