‘Coco at 19 Cannot Do That’- American Tennis Legend Chris Evert Heaps Praise on World No.1 Iga Swiatek for Completely Dominating Coco Gauff in a Crucial Facet

In the world of professional tennis, physical prowess is highly celebrated. However, an often overlooked aspect that can make or break a player’s performance is their mental agility. The French Open quarterfinal match between Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff is a prime example of the significance of mental strength in high-stakes tennis encounters. This was reported after Swiatek’s commanding 6-4, 6-2 QF victory over Gauff.

Iga Swiatek v. Coco Gauff: A battle of physical & mental fortitude

The first set of the quarterfinal encounter between Swiatek and Gauff proved to be a riveting showcase of mental fortitude. Both players demonstrated remarkable skills and displayed a high level of tennis. As the set reached a critical point at 4-4, 30-30, the tension in the air was infectious. American tennis legend Chris Evert, commentating on the match, remarked, “The first set was 4-4, 30-30, and I was thinking, ‘Wow, this is the highest quality women’s tennis match we’ve seen so far; they’re both playing so well.’ And then Iga just mentally – she’s just stronger.” Evert’s observation highlights Swiatek’s mental strength, which proved to be a decisive factor in the set.

Evert further explained, “She challenges Coco to be mentally aware and in the moment, every single point, and Iga can do that, whereas Coco at 19 cannot do that.”

“The second set was less tense; Coco made a lot of forehand errors and was mis-hitting a few more balls. It wasn’t the highest quality, but you give credit to Iga, coming out there against a dangerous opponent and found her A-game.” Evert also added.

Iga Swiatek to face Beatriz Haddad Maia in French Open semifinals

In her upcoming match, Swiatek will take on Beatriz Haddad Maia, who has made history as the first Brazilian woman in the Open Era to reach the French Open semifinals, following her wins against Ons Jabeur.

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Looking ahead to the clash, Swiatek expressed her confidence, noting her comparatively shorter match durations in the tournament. While Swiatek has spent a total of five hours and 36 minutes on the court, Haddad Maia has played for an impressive 12 hours and 42 minutes.
“I’m pretty fresh because, as you saw in previous matches, I didn’t really spend too much time on court. Not having a day off was something that I knew since the beginning of the tournament, so I’m kind of ready for the situation,” Swiatek commented.

Swiatek and Haddad Maia are set to go head-to-head on Thursday, June 8, for a spot in the Finals.

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