French Open: Chris Evert praises Iga Swiatek after Coco Gauff wins – ‘Not even tested’

Iga Swiatek “hasn’t even been tested in this tournament yet,” believes Chris Evert after watching the world number one beat Coco Gauff to reach the French Open semi-finals.

It took the Pole one step closer to back-to-back Roland-Garros titles and a possible, much-anticipated final meeting with Aryna Sabalenka, should the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds survive their semi-finals.

Wednesday’s quarter-final was followed by Eurosport’s Chris Evert, who praised the Pole for finding his “A-game” when it mattered.

Evert said, “It was [tighter than last years final]. The first set was 4-4, 30-30, and I thought, Wow, this is the best women’s tennis match we’ve seen so far; they both play so well, and then Iga just mentally – he’s just stronger.

“He challenges Coco to be mentally aware and in the moment, every point, and Iga can do that, whereas Coco at 19 can’t do that.

“The second set was less tense; Coco made a lot of forehand errors and mishit a few more balls. It wasn’t the best quality, but you give credit to Iga who came out against a dangerous opponent and found her A-game.

“He hasn’t even been tested in this tournament. He found his A-game and played very well.”

Evert felt that his American Gauff could have perhaps changed his tactics more, while he found that Swiatek was simply better in most departments.

“After that first set, Coco had to change something. If you’re losing, you have to change. As soon as she started coming to the net, I thought she could have fired more. She threw everything but the kitchen sink together. But that’s not her game.

“Iga beat him in the game. Iga does everything but the volleyball a little bit better than Coco right now. There’s no area other than the volleyball — mentally, emotionally, physically — he moves as well as Coco.

“Coco is incredibly good defensively, maybe matches his attack, but Iga is also a great defender.

“Coco just couldn’t find the answers; there was a chink in the armor.”

Henman, alongside Evert at Eurosport, considered it a “significant hurdle” that Swiatek had overcome.

He said: “On the run, Swiatek and Gauff – it’s a huge difference. Swiatek is so aggressive, so consistent with that forehand, plays with so much power and spin, doesn’t make mistakes and hits a lot of winners.

“That’s one of his huge weapons and he’s confident on any surface, but especially clay.

“This was a huge match – last year’s final – and it’s another major hurdle that Swiatek has overcome.”

Swiatek will now face Beatriz Haddad Maia in the last four semifinals, while Sabalenka will play Karolina Muchova in the other semifinal.

—

On June 10 and 11, take part in a live sports roller coaster ride. Roland-Garros Finals, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Speedway Grand Prix, UCI Mountain Bike World Series, Criterium du Dauphine, MotoGP and Champions League Final, Weekend of Champions live on Eurosport, Discovery+ and BT Sport.