Page 16 - aruba-today-20220603

A16 sports
Friday 3 June 2022
Coco Gauff, 18, to face No. 1 Swiatek in French Open final

clouds overhead and the
temperature hovering
around 75 degrees Fahren-
heit (about 25 Celsius), the
two women's semifinals fol-
lowed a similar pattern.
Swiatek-Kasatkina was at
2-all. Then Swiatek claimed
10 of the last 11 games.
Gauff-Trevisan was at 3-all.
Then Gauff claimed nine of
the last 10 games.
Trevisan is a 28-year-old
left-hander who entered
the day on a 10-match win-
ning streak, including her
first career WTA title at Ra-
bat, Morocco, a week be-
fore play began at Roland
Garros. She also defeated
Gauff the only previous
time they played — in the
second round in Paris two
years ago.
There were brief blips of
tension Thursday that had
little to do with the score.
Trevisan was surprised when
chair umpire Marijana Vel-
jovic cautioned her about
Coco Gauff of the U.S.returns the ball to Italy's Martina Trevisan during their semifinal match of the French Open tennis tournament grunting — "I always play
at the Roland Garros stadium Thursday, June 2, 2022 in Paris. like this," the Italian said —
Associated Press after the official was asked
by Gauff whether it was OK
PARIS (AP) — In some ways, 1-ranked Iga Swiatek on nus Williams on the way to 115 mph against Trevisan, that her opponent's cries
Coco Gauff is very much a Saturday, the American the fourth round there at a terrific backhand and a of "Ahhhh!" were stretching
typical 18-year-old, striding thought of the recent spate 15. still-improving forehand are into Gauff's racket swings.
into Court Philippe Chatrier of mass shootings in her "From what I see on court, the keys to the 18th-seed- Gauff questioned Veljo-
for her French Open semi- home country and wrote she's developing every ed Gauff's game. vic about a couple of line
final on Thursday with ear- in marker on a courtside TV year, basically," said Swi- Trevisan also praised calls, drawing whistles and
buds in place, listening to camera: "Peace. End gun atek, the champion at Ro- Gauff's defense, likening boos from spectators who
a playlist she explained is violence." land Garros in 2020 and on facing her to hitting against frown on that sort of thing.
"called 'Rap' — and I can't "I woke up this morning, a 34-match winning streak a wall — every ball comes After one such interaction,
say the next word." and I saw there was an- after eliminating No. 20 back. Trevisan broke serve to pull
And in some ways, she is an other shooting, and I think Daria Kasatkina 6-2, 6-1 on Now, in Swiatek, comes even at 3-3. Unbothered,
old soul, anything but a run- it's just crazy. I know that Thursday. "And when I see someone who will present Gauff broke right back to
of-the-mill teen — or run-of- it's getting more attention her, I tend to forget that a much tougher test. The lead 4-3, smacking a back-
the-mill tennis player. now. But ... this has been she's 18." only Polish player to win a hand winner that brought
So when Gauff had an issue, at least in my Ah, but she is. major singles title hasn't lost Mom and Dad out of their
wrapped up her 6-3, 6-1 head, for a long time, and I When Gauff arrived in Paris since February, stringing to- seats in the player guest
victory over Martina Trev- definitely think there needs a little more than two weeks gether five tournaments in box.
isan to reach her first Grand to be some reform put into ago, she celebrated her a row; only Venus Williams, Now there's one match
Slam final, setting up a place," Gauff said. "I think recent high school gradu- who won 35 consecutive left to determine a cham-
showdown against No. now especially, being 18, ation by posing for cap- matches in 2000, has a lon- pion: the dominant Swiatek
ARUBA educate myself around Eiffel Tower while holding century. Gauff.
I've really been trying to and-gown photos near the ger unbeaten stretch this against
precocious
the
certain situations, because her diploma. Now she's the "I'm just trying to treat these "I'm in a mindset now like:
CLEAN now I have the right to vote youngest player to reach a matches as any other 'It doesn't matter.' I mean,
and I want to use that wise-
major title match since Ma-
matches," Swiatek said, I'm going to be happy, re-
ly." ria Sharapova won Wim- "because it is stressful, and gardless. My parents are
A willingness to speak out bledon at 17 in 2004. I accept that. But I want going to love me, regard-
about issues of significance, Gauff has won all 12 sets to keep doing the same less. So I'm just going to go
and a wide-lens view of she's played, although she work." into it like another match,"
the world, reflect the sort did not need to navigate The men's semifinals are Gauff said. "I mean, yeah,
of maturity that has served the most arduous path Friday, with 13-time French it's a Grand Slam final, but
her well, especially with so to get this. Because of all Open champion Rafael there are so many things
much attention from such manner of surprising results Nadal playing No. 3 seed going on in the world right
a young age. She won the and early exits by top play- Alexander Zverev, and now, and especially in the
French Open junior title at ers from the bracket, she 2014 U.S. Open champion U.S. a lot of stuff is happen-
IS MORE 14. She became the young- has faced only one seeded Marin Cilic facing No. 8 ing right now, so I think it's
DUSHI est qualifier in Wimbledon foe, No. 31 Elise Mertens. Casper Ruud. not important to stress over
history and then beat Ve-
Big serves that reached With only faint wisps of a tennis match."q