Iga Swiatek has revealed her delight in reaching the China Open final after defeating Coco Gauff 6-2 6-3.
Swiatek responded to losing her world number one in style after crushing the US Open champion in the semi-finals.
The Pole cruised into her seventh final of the year as she ended the 16 match winning streak of Gauff.
After the match Swiatek expressed her delight at reaching the final in Beijing and was happy that she switched her attitude after the US Open, “I’m really happy with my performance,” Swiatek told the WTA website.
“It feels like I can play freely again, so I’m really happy. It’s been a while since I felt that way. So I’ll remember for the rest of my career that even though tougher times may come, in your mind, you can always overcome that. And with hard work, you can achieve it.
“I’m happy that I switched my attitude after US Open, and hopefully I’ll be able to keep it for as long as possible.”
The next task for Swiatek is Liudmila Samsonova after Samsonova defeated Elena Rybakina in straight sets.
After the match Samsonova put the performance into her own words, “I had many chances also to close the set for 6-4, the first one,” Samsonova explained in her 7-6(7) 6-4 win over the former Wimbledon champion.
“I think I didn’t play so good that game. At the end I was able to finish. I don’t know how, seriously. Maybe just to stay there and try every point to be there during the match.”
Swiatek has a 2-0 head-to-head record against Samsonova as the Pole looks for her first WTA 1000 title of the season a fifth title of 2023.
