Coco Gauff is gunning for revenge in opposition to Iga Swiatek after they conflict within the quarter-finals of the French Open.
Gauff reached her first grand slam singles remaining right here final yr and was handed a heavy beating by Swiatek, who claimed her second Roland Garros title.
Their rivalry is a one-sided 6-0 to the Pole, with Gauff but to win a set, however the teenager stated: “Honestly, since last year I have been wanting to play her, especially at this tournament.
“I figured that it was going to happen because I figured I was going to do well and she was going to do well. Didn’t know what side of the draw we were going to be on, obviously.
“But I’m the type of mentality, if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. I think also, if you want to improve, you have to play the best.
“I feel like, the way my career has gone so far, if I see a level, and if I’m not quite there at that level, I know I have to improve. I think it would be almost cowardly to say that I want to not face the noise and not face the challenge, but I think that I’m up for it.
“I have improved a lot since last year, and she has too. I think it would be a great battle for us and for the fans, too.”
Gauff is once more exhibiting glorious kind in Paris and she or he reached the quarter-finals for the third successive yr with a 7-5 6-2 victory over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.
Swiatek, in the meantime, has misplaced solely 9 video games in her 4 matches, though she was given a serving to hand when Ukrainian opponent Lesia Tsurenko retired via sickness trailing 5-1 within the opening set.
Swiatek once more raced out of the blocks, transferring right into a 4-0 lead earlier than her run of 23 straight video games throughout three matches got here to an finish.
Tsurenko known as the physician and coach after getting on the board however performed just one extra sport earlier than calling it a day.
I feel it will be virtually cowardly to say that I wish to not face the noise and never face the problem.
Coco Gauff on dealing with Iga Swiatek
Seventh seed Ons Jabeur eased into the final eight with a 6-3 6-1 victory over American Bernarda Pera.
The Tunisian, who reached the ultimate at each Wimbledon and the US Open final yr, has struggled with harm in 2023 however is thru to the quarter-finals right here for the primary time.
“It was the only grand slam missing,” stated Jabeur. “I’m very happy with the performance, with the way I was, playing, especially coming back after an injury.
“I was just taking it one match at a time, trying to make it to the second week. Now I’m going to push more for the next few matches.”
In the final eight she’s going to meet Beatriz Haddad Maia, who wanted a mammoth three hours and 51 minutes to get previous Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-7 (3) 6-3 7-5.
It was the longest ladies’s match of the yr and the longest at Roland Garros since 1995, with Haddad Maia turning into the primary Brazilian to succeed in the ladies’s singles quarter-finals since Maria Bueno 55 years in the past.
“All the matches that I play I prepare myself for the toughest moments,” stated the 14th seed. “So I know that Sara will bring the balls. She defends very well. I knew that the ball was coming again.
“I had to be aggressive. So I was prepared for that. I was trying to be as aggressive as I could to finish the point, to go to the net. I work very hard on my body, as well, so I believe in myself when we have tough moments.”
