By Victor Kanayo
Upcoming American tennis star Coco Gauff has been knocked out of the ongoing French Open tournament.
Resilient Gauff was beaten by defending champion Iga Swiatek in what appears like a rematch of their 2022 French Open title clash.
The world No 1 had to show her class to secure a 6-4 6-2 victory and eventually reach the semi-final on Wednesday.
The top seed will take on Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia in the last four as she continues her bid for a third crown in four years at Roland Garros and her fourth Grand Slam title overall.
How The Clash Panned Out
Swiatek has adopted a more ruthless approach to her title defence dishing out four bagels in as many rounds but the Pole found the going tougher against a determined Gauff in the see-sawing opening set on Court Philippe Chatrier.
After drawing first blood, she allowed Gauff to hit back and level up at 3-3 by crashing a volley into the net before getting back on track to take the advantage in the clash with a superb crosscourt winner.
The relieved 22-year-old pumped her fist and let out a big scream after that decisive point.
Swiatek took a tumble at the net after nearly being struck by a Gauff rocket before producing a tight hold for a 2-1 lead in the next set and dusted herself off to grab another break with a perfectly placed lob.
She settled the contest by pouncing on Gauff’s serve again and finished when the 19-year-old found the net.
Gauff has now lost all seven of her career meetings against Swiatek in straight sets – including in last year’s French Open final.
