French Open 2024: Coco Gauff vs Iga Swiatek; Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction

“The goal is to win French Open. One day… and hopefully it can be this year,” this is what Coco Gauff said in Madrid earlier this year. But has the day finally come? She’s all set to take on Iga Swiatek yet again in a do-or-die match at the SF of the 2024 French Open. Facing the ‘Queen of Clay’ on her beloved terre battue is the biggest challenge in women’s tennis. Coco Gauff needs to put in a Herculean effort to stand a chance against the world number one.

Talking about rankings, well there is some good news for all the American tennis fans! After Aryna Sabalenka‘s exit from the Roland Garros, Coco Gauff is all set to rise to the number 2 spot on Monday. So fans can now call this a clash between the world number one and the new world number two! 

Coco Gauff vs Iga Swiatek: Preview

Coco Gauff had a decent season so far this year. She started her season with a title triumph at the ASB Classic and after that, she appeared in three SFs and two QFs in the rest of her tournaments. Even in this tournament, Gauff didn’t drop a single set, until her previous game against Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur. She made a comeback in that match and sealed the deal at 4-6,6-2,6-3. Gauff hit three aces in that match and committed four double faults against the world number 9. Her first-serve win percentage was 68%, and it crept up to 71% on the second-serve. The 20-year-old American tennis star converted four out of her five breakpoints in that match.

Talking about her numbers from this season, Gauff has hit 115 aces and committed a total of 213 double faults. The high double-fault counts have been a big concern in her game over the past few years. So, this is something she needs to put a lid on to stand a chance against someone like Iga Swiatek. Gauff has won 69.8% of her service games this season and 49.4% of her return games.

On the other hand, Iga Swiatek has already clinched four titles this season, and apart from that, she has also reached two SFs in her previous tournaments in 2024. This is her sixth appearance in this tournament and she is now already eyeing for her third title on the Parisian clay. She has a staggering record of 33-2 and is currently just two victories away from becoming the first player since 2007 to win three consecutive titles at this venue. Iga Swiatek is on a 17-match winning streak on clay.

In her last match, she defeated Marketa Vondrousova by 6- 0, 6- 2. However, Swiatek didn’t hit any aces, and neither did she commit any double faults in that match. She won 85% of her first serve and 50% of her second serve against the Czech. The world number one could only convert five of her nine breakpoints in that match. Looking at her numbers from her season this year, Iga Swiatek has hit just 59 aces and committed 63 double faults. She has won 83.6% of her service games and 46.8% of her return games.

Gauff vs Swiatek: Head-to-Head

Well, the numbers aren’t too pleasing for the American here! Iga Swiatek has dominated most of their previous encounters and she’s yet to drop a set against Coco Gauff on clay. In fact, Iga Swiatek has eliminated the American phenom from the last two editions of this tournament. Currently, she has a H2H record of 10-1 against Gauff. Their first meeting was in Rome at the SF of the 2021 Italian Open. And in that match, Swiatek defeated Gauff by 7-6,6-3. Coco Gauff’s only victory against her came at the 2023 Cincinnati Masters.

They met each other recently at the semifinals of the 2024 Italian Open. In that match, yet again Swiatek sealed a two-set victory over Gauff. Looking at the stats from that match, the Polish tennis star hit one ace and committed one double fault. Coco Gauff fired three aces and committed four double faults in that match. She won 63% of her first serve and 42% of her second serve but it was 70% and 59% respectively for Iga Swiatek. She converted just four out of her eleven breakpoints against Gauff, while the American converted one out of her two breakpoints.

Despite her dominance over the youngster, Iga Swiatek believes Coco Gauff has become more mature now and her mental game has also got a bit better. She revealed before it was “kind of easier to ‘crack her’“. On the other hand, Coco Gauff feels she needs to “find a better way to play her.” Can the American tennis star cause a major upset in this tournament by defeating the ‘Queen of Clay’?

Prediction: Swiatek to win in three sets

Looking at her records on this surface and her dominance over the American, Iga Swiatek will be the overwhelming favorite to win this match. However, Coco Gauff is a pretty formidable opponent on clay. She recently stated that red clay is home to a lot of “first” triumphs in her career. She grew up playing on this surface. Gauff has improved a lot in the last few years and has become more mature. So, don’t be surprised if this match goes deep.

Looking at their form this year, Iga Swiatek has marked a win-loss record of 38-4 this season, while it’s just 25-8 for Gauff. Iga Swiatek’s aggressive style of play with big serves will be put to the test against Coco Gauff’s incredible athleticism on the court. Swiatek generates a high amount of winners and unforced errors. She can hit powerful backhands down the line and this is something Gauff must be wary of. However, defeating Iga Swiatek on this surface is quite a tough ask, Gauff will definitely give a fight but Swiatek is going to win the match.