Earlier today, the French Open saw one of the quickest complete matches in the tournament’s history. World Number 1, Iga Swiatek, took no time in dispatching no. 41 Anastasia Potapova in straight sets in the fourth round. However, it was an embarrassing defeat for Potapova, who was ruthlessly double-baggled by Swiatek. And who can better know about Swiatek’s dominance on the court than Coco Gauff?

The American tennis sensation has come up against Swiatek several times on the court. The two share an intriguing rivalry, being among the top players on the women’s circuit. Gauff was scheduled to play after Swiatek’s match against Potapova. She had to hardly wait as Swiatek’s match was completed in just 40 minutes.

During an interview, Gauff was asked how she felt after playing her match after that of Swiatek. The American sensation revealed, “Yeah, I mean, I figured that the match, usually if you’re after her, you know it’s probably going to be a quick match. So I figured the match would probably go an 1:15, an hour at the quickest. I definitely wasn’t expecting 40 minutes.” 

Gauff knows what it is to face Swiatek, who doesn’t give anything away to her opponents. In the 11 matches that Gauff and Swiatek have played against each other, the American star has won just a solitary match while losing the other 10, which happened in Cinicinnati in 2023.

Per Tennis Majors, Swiatek said of Gauff in 2022, “On court I feel like sometimes I’ve been really dominating in matches against her. But for sure on Roland-Garros, you could see her level…She is really tall. She has a good reach. But she’s moving really, really well, and she’s kind of flexible. She has variety. She can go to the net. When I was her age, I didn’t know how to play volleys, so I’m pretty jealous. Yeah, she’s a great player.”

While the words have been kind from each side usually, Gauff and Siwatek had contrasting takes on the Parisian crowd’s treatment of non-French players this year.

Coco Gauff disapproves of Iga Swiatek’s take on the vocal French Open crowd

During her matches at the French Open, Swiatek has often complained about loud noises by the fans inside the stadium. She has hit out hard at them, saying that it is difficult to concentrate in such an environment. However, Swiatek’s rival, Coco Gauff had a different opinion on this matter.

She said, “I like big crowds obviously, and I like when people are passionate about the match. I know sometimes during the point it can be tough when there’s crowd noise, and especially when it’s unexpected. I think constant noise is better. I think to an extent it’s tough because you’re watching a match at such high stakes, and I see myself as a spectator.”

With this, the battle at the French Open has already begun between Gauff and Swiatek. The two are on a collision course in the semifinals, in what could prove to be a thriller of a contest. Will it be Coco Gauff this time or will Swiatek continue her dominance? Only time will tell!