Iga Swiatek vs Coco Gauff score, result & highlights as world No. 1 defeats US star at French Open 2023

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Iga Swiatek
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Iga Swiatek booked her spot in the 2023 French Open semifinals with a 6-4 6-2 win over American Coco Gauff as her quest to defend the title she won 12 months ago moved a step closer.

This was a rematch of last year's final — Gauff suffering a 6-1 6-3 defeat on that occasion —  but the world No. 1 and top seed never looked in danger of slipping up against her opponent.

The teenager played well in the opening set but Swiatek soon found her groove, and coupled with Gauff's 23 unforced errors, the Pole's impressive record against her opponent now stands at winning 14 sets out of 14 across seven matches.

"For sure, it wasn't easy — the first set, especially, was really tight and Coco was really using the conditions here," Swiatek said.

"I'm pretty happy I was able to work on it and win this match because quarterfinals are sometimes the toughest matches. Even though Coco is young, she is experienced, so I'm pretty happy to be in the semifinal."

Swiatek will face Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia on Thursday, who beat Ons Jabeur 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-1, in her quarterfinal.

"I didn't really spend too much time on court so I'm actually happy today was a tighter match," Swiatek said on the quick turnaround.

"I will be ready no matter what and not having a day off was something that I knew since the beginning of the tournament, so I am ready for this situation."

The Sporting News was providing live updates and highlights from the quarterfinal match.

Iga Swiatek vs Coco Gauff result

  1 2
Iga Swiatek 6 6
Coco Gauff 4 2

Iga Swiatek vs Coco Gauff live updates, highlights from French Open quarterfinal

*denotes on serve

Iga Swiatek 6-4 6-2 *Coco Gauff — SWIATEK WINS SECOND SET AND THE MATCH

With just an hour and 25 minutes on the clock, Gauff is serving to stay in the match. Swiatek takes the first two points with ease and the crowd start to sense the end is near for Gauff. But the American gets one back as Swiatek can't return a serve out wide. Two match points come along as Gauff double faults at the worst possible moment. Gauff then hits a forehand into the net and it's GAME. SET. MATCH.

*Iga Swiatek 6-4 5-2 Coco Gauff

New balls for Swiatek isn't good news for Gauff but the American gets all her power behind a nice forehand winner to take the first point. Swiatek responds with one of her own, 15-15. Gauff attempts a sliced forehand at the next but it goes long before Swiatek pulls out only her second ace of the match, 40-15. Swiatek goes onto hold and she has one foot in the semifinals.

Iga Swiatek 6-4 4-2 *Coco Gauff

Swiatek is relentless and more mistakes from Gauff sees her go 0-30 down. Swiatek then hits an overhead backhand to which Gauff returns with a backhand winner, 30-15. Swiatek soon has two break points and as Gauff comes to the net her opponent plays a delightful lob that has the American quickly panicking and her return hits the net. Swiatek is two games away from the semifinal!

*Iga Swiatek 6-4 3-2 Coco Gauff

But finding a way past a resilient reigning champion is no easy task. At 30-15, Gauff's backhand return on the second serve is poor and crashes into the net. She then sends a wayward forehand wide.

Iga Swiatek 6-4 2-2 *Coco Gauff

Gauff holds to love with ease, that should give the American confidence going into the next game.

*Iga Swiatek 6-4 2-1 Coco Gauff

Gauff gets a lob shot at the net horribly wrong after an exciting rally but still has the advantage at 15-30. Gauff soon has two break points but one goes begging with a wild forehand return into the stands. Her second return goes right down the middle but is over hit, deuce. Gauff then draws Swiatek in with a drop shot which the Pole makes, only for Gauff to smash one back at Swiatek and set up another break point. Gauff apologises for her shot hitting the world No. 1 on the leg. Swiatek lets out a big roar as she eventually holds serve after saving three break points.

Iga Swiatek 6-4 1-1 *Coco Gauff

Brilliant backhand play from Gauff sees her show the perfect amount of controlled accuracy and power to get to 40-15 and she sees the game out with an ace.

*Iga Swiatek 6-4 1-0 Coco Gauff

Swiatek continues where she left off with an easy winner. The second forehand winner is more explosive than the first. The American gets a point back but then can't believe Swiatek's next winner kisses the base line to move to 40-15. Swiatek makes it three games in a row as her final serve leaves Gauff practically on her knees trying to return it.

Iga Swiatek 6-4 *Coco Gauff — SWIATEK WINS FIRST SET

Gauff's forehand volley across court from a tight angle should be deserving of the opening point but Swiatek does brilliantly to make the shot and send the ball beyond her opponent's reach. At 0-30, Gauff hits an easy forehand into the net to gift her opponent three set points. Swiatek hits her best form at the crucial moment and another powerful forehand winner leaves Gauff no chance.

*Iga Swiatek 5-4 Coco Gauff

Gauff's ability to get across the court with ease is paying off as she continues to stay in the rally and wait for Swiatek to make the mistake. At 30-30, Gauff's usually reliable backhand lets her down as her shot goes beyond the base line. Swiatek holds with a fierce serve.

Iga Swiatek 4-4 *Coco Gauff

We've not seen many drop shots so far but Gauff disguises a lovely backhand one to take the first point. Swiatek then hits a vicious backhand return down the line on the return serve that even has former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger clapping in the stands. Swiatek gets to 15-30 with another neat forehand winner that Gauff doesn't even attempt to try and reach. The world No. 1 soon has break point but can't take advantage of it as her own forehand hits the top of the net. Gauff is back in control with a lovely backhand winner out of Swiatek's reach and goes on to hold.

*Iga Swiatek 4-3 Coco Gauff

Swiatek shows her speed across the court to return a delicate volley low at the net. Gauff is also quick to get to the net at the next point but fluffs her lines and hits it wide and she reacts by putting her head in her hands, 40-0. Swiatek holds as the American can't return the serve and it's still one break each so far.

Iga Swiatek 3-3 *Coco Gauff

The wind seems to catch Gauff off guard on the second point as she has to run to the net to hit a forehand volley and messes it up. A powerful serve right to Swiatek's body sees the No. 1 seed awkwardly return it into the net, 30-30. Swiatek takes it to deuce but Gauff holds her nerve to level the scores.

Watch in UK:

*Iga Swiatek 3-2 Coco Gauff

Gauff responds by getting two break points of her own by hitting behind Swiatek and making her play some uncomfortable shots. Swiatek saves one but then overhits a looping forehand and the American breaks!

Iga Swiatek 3-1 *Coco Gauff

Swiatek is starling to find her groove and a few powerful winners gets her three break points. She gets the break as Gauff can only return her backhand into the net.

*Iga Swiatek 2-1 Coco Gauff

Swiatek won't want to see that one back as she gets the connection all wrong with an easy return but quickly puts that to bed with a fierce serve at the next point. A cross-court backhand stunner gives Gauff the next and has the crowd clapping, 15-30. Swiatek returns with a forehand winner of her own and a couple of errors from Gauff later sees Swiatek hold serve.

Iga Swiatek 1-1 *Coco Gauff

Swiatek's backhand goes wide for the opener before she sends a forehand long, 30-0. A powerful forehand return from the Pole on the third point forces Gauff to hit into the net. The longest rally of the match so far then goes Gauff's way as she does well to return her opponent's powerful shots. Gauff takes the game with an aggressive volley at the net, a promising start from the American.

*Iga Swiatek 1-0 Coco Gauff

First point of the match goes to Gauff as she hits a forehand beyond the baseline. Another error puts Swiatek 30-0 up before Gauff pulls off a lovely backhand volley at the net to win her first point. Swiatek sees out the game with her first ace.

5 minutes to go: The players are out warming up and we'll be set to go shortly. Swiatek has had four bagel sets already this tournament... will we see another today?

15 minutes to go: Game. Set. Match. The winner of today's match will come up against Brazilian Haddad Maia who came from a set down to beat Jabeur 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-1. That's got the crowd fired up for what promises to be a thrilling second match on court. Swiatek and Gauff will be making their way out shortly. Stay tuned!

20 minutes to go: Haddad Maia leads 5-1 in the deciding set and is one game away from the semifinal. Swiatek and Gauff will be up next.

Still(!) 30 minutes to go: We're going to have to wait a little longer for Swiatek and Gauff to come out on Philippe Chatrier after Beatriz Haddad Maia just won a tie-break in the second set against Ons Jabeur. They're playing a deciding set right now.

30 minutes to go: Gauff is up against it in the fact Swiatek was 5-1 up in the first set against Lesia Tsurenko in Round 4, when her opponent withdrew due to breathing issues, meaning the Pole will be fresh.

Meanwhile, the 19-year-old saw off Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the last round to set up this tie and out of her four matches so far, two of them have gone to three sets.

45 minutes to go: It's going to be a tough one for Gauff today given her previous record against Swiatek. 

The pair have faced each other six times before with the Polish star winning each matchup without even dropping a set! 

1 hour to go: The biggest match so far at Roland-Garros this year takes place today. Can Coco Gauff avenge last year's final defeat to Iga Swiatek?

How to watch the 2023 French Open in the US

  • TV channel: NBC, Peacock, Tennis Channel
  • Live stream: Fubo, Hulu, DIRECTV & others

Tennis fans in the US have a number of different ways to watch the 2023 French Open on TV. That's because this year, NBC, Peacock and the Tennis Channel will split coverage of the tournament.

In terms of live streaming the event, there are also various different options stateside. The following streaming sites will all show coverage of the tournament: Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV, Fubo, Sling TV, Peacock, YouTube TV and Tennis Channel Plus.

How to watch the 2023 French Open in the UK

  • TV channel: Eurosport 
  • Live stream: discovery+

As has been the case for a few years now, the French Open will be broadcast live on Eurosport. All the action across all the rounds will be shown live on either Eurosport 1 or Eurosport 2. 

As for streaming, tennis fans in the UK will need to subscribe to discovery+ to catch the action. The correct plan for the tournament — Entertainment & Sport — is available for £6.99 a month or £59.99 per year. You can also add the same package to any Amazon Prime account as an add-on fee.

How to watch the 2023 French Open in Australia

  • TV channel: 9Gem
  • Live stream: Stan Sport, 9Now

The 2023 edition of the French Open will be broadcast live and free on 9Gem.

Coverage will start each day at 6:30 pm AEST and run until the early hours of the morning. Commentary for select matches will come from Nine’s Wide World of Sports team, featuring Roz Kelly, Todd Woodbridge, Jelena Dokic, Samantha Stosur, Brenton Speed and Brett Phillips.

For streaming options, Australian tennis supporters can pay to catch all of the action on Stan Sport. Fans down under can also stream the action for free via 9Now, which will show the standard free-to-air broadcast.

How to watch the 2023 French Open in Canada

  • TV channel: RDS, TSN
  • Live stream: TSN Direct

In Canada, fans can catch the action TV with both RDS and TSN after the French Federation for Tennis signed an agreement to broadcast the tournament live with those outlets as partners.

As for streaming the tournament, Canadian tennis fans can catch the action via TSN Direct. 

How to watch the 2023 French Open in India

  • TV channel: Sony TEN
  • Live stream: SonyLiv

Tennis fans in India only have a few options when it comes to catching all of the action at the 2023 French Open. 

In terms of television channel, Sony TEN will show matches whilst from a streaming perceptive, fans will need a SonyLiv subscription to watch. 

Author(s)
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Dan is a sub-editor for The Sporting News' UK edition.
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