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Coco Gauff suggests it just does not make sense that some people think Iga Swiatek hasn't had a good season. After a very dominant 2022 season, Swiatek hasn't been able to replicate that same success in 2023. But still, Swiatek won her fourth Grand Slam at this year's French Open and she spent 75 consecutive weeks at the world No 1 spot before being replaced by Aryna Sabalenka after the US Open.
Also, Swiatek won three more titles in 2023, and on Saturday, she defeated Gauff 6-2 6-3 to progress into the final of a WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing. “I mean, I've seen some of the comments people are saying, like she had not a good season.
I mean, she won a Grand Slam and was No 1 forever. I'm like, I would dream to have the season like she had this year," Gauff said of Swiatek's season after losing to the Pole in Beijing.
Coco Gauff defends Iga Swiatek from people who say she didn’t have a good season:
“I mean, I've seen some of the comments people are saying, like she had not a good season.I mean, she won a Grand Slam & was #1 forever. I'm like, I would dream to have the season like she had… pic.twitter.com/9g0QpwSSD6 — The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 7, 2023
Gauff defends Swiatek
At this year's US Open, Swiatek failed to defend her title after surprisingly losing to Jelena Ostapenko in the round-of-16.
Also, Swiatek lost the world No 1 ranking with her US Open round-of-16 loss to Ostapenko. After the US Open, Swiatek shared her thoughts on "ridiculous expectations" that some placed on her. “Holding the No 1 ranking is a huge challenge… It's stupid to quote Taylor Swift, but she said in one of the interviews that the music industry is entertainment & it should be fun, but everything that’s happening around makes it seem like The Hunger Games.
I feel the same way when I'm on tour. I remember in 2019, when I went on tour, I had a different perspective. I was able to appreciate that I travel to these great places & that I’m at the stage where I can play in WTA tournaments.
The perspective has changed tremendously. Let's imagine if I had a normal season in 2022, winning a Grand Slam during the season would be a success that would practically justify everything I do & my whole year. This season I won a Grand Slam tournament.
I won other tournaments. They are important tournaments to me, & we are talking about failures. For me, this is a paradox of all this & something that’s difficult for me. Because of what I hear around me, I'm starting to think this way, but I have good people around me to explain this perspective to me & that it's not like that at all," Swiatek recently told Eurosport Polska.