When Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff returned to the semi-finals of the French Open, another heavyweight clash seemed imminent on the other side of the draw. With Elena Rybakina set to face the 12th seed Jasmine Paolini, and Aryna Sabalenka up against the teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva, it looked like the top four seeds, who have collectively won seven of the last eight grand slam titles, were poised to advance to the semi-finals.
However, Roland Garros witnessed a day of upsets, reducing the big four to the top two, and resulting in two contrasting women’s singles semi-finals. Swiatek and Gauff, who have played on the biggest stages including a French Open final against each other, will occupy the No. 1 and 2 spots in the WTA rankings come Monday. Meanwhile, both Paolini and the 17-year-old Andreeva will be making their debut in a grand slam semi-final when they meet on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Unexpected Semi-Final Showdown
In an unforeseen twist at the Paris tournament, the semi-final lineup has diverged from expectations, thwarting the anticipated clash between Sabalenka and Rybakina.
Jasmine Paolini, the 28-year-old Italian, continued her stellar year with a remarkable three-set triumph over the subdued and inconsistent Rybakina. Despite Rybakina’s past Wimbledon glory, she couldn’t deploy her strengths against the diminutive yet formidable Paolini.
Paolini’s journey is one of sheer determination. Before this year, she had competed in 27 Grand Slam tournaments without advancing past the second round until she broke through at the Australian Open. Following that, she clinched her first WTA title in Dubai and entered the top 20 in the world rankings. Her victory over Rybakina, during her debut on the Philippe-Chatrier court, marked a significant moment in her career.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Russian phenom Mirra Andreeva quickly captured the sport’s attention. After making it to the third round at Roland Garros last year, starting from the qualifying rounds, she continued to impress at Wimbledon and the Australian Open. Her stunning victory over second seed Sabalenka, who was visibly struggling with a stomach issue, stands as the biggest win of her young career.
Teen Tennis Sensation Reveals Her Winning Mindset
Afterwards, the teenager shared her perspective on her on-court mentality, shedding light on how she remains composed during grand slam events. “I just see the game, I play where I want!” she said, making it sound effortlessly simple. “I don’t have a plan. If I see a space, I hit there.” If the talented and composed Andreeva can maintain this straightforward approach against Paolini, a dream grand slam final could be within her grasp.
Meanwhile, either Swiatek or Gauff will make their return to the Roland Garros final. Swiatek, the defending champion, is the heavy favorite to reach her fourth French Open final in five years, having won 10 out of 11 matches against the American.
Since saving match point in her second-round thriller against Naomi Osaka, Swiatek has been unstoppable, losing only eight games in her subsequent three wins. “I feel like you just go crazy every point,” remarked Wimbledon champion Marketa Voundrosova, who was defeated 6-0 6-2 in the previous round.
Gauff vs. Swiatek: A Clash of Grand Slam Champions
Gauff has previously faced the formidable Swiatek at Roland Garros and struggled to compete. Their 2022 final and 2023 quarter-final encounters were both one-sided in favor of Swiatek. However, this time Swiatek will face a fellow Grand Slam champion. Gauff’s mental resilience was evident in her comeback win over Ons Jabeur in the quarter-finals, and when she defeated Sabalenka to win the US Open last September.
Swiatek acknowledges she will be up against a different player now. “I think her mental game is a little bit better,” said Swiatek. “Before, it was kind of easier to ‘crack her’ when you were leading. Probably every aspect of her game is a little bit better because it’s different being a teenager on the tour and then being a more mature player.”
While Swiatek holds the advantage in head-to-head matches and boasts a 19-match winning streak at the French Open, Gauff remains undeterred. “I have nothing to lose; all the pressure is on her,” Gauff stated. Nonetheless, Swiatek has consistently thrived under pressure in Paris. Later in the day, Paolini and Andreeva will also face intense pressure as they step into uncharted territory.
