Coco Gauff, that American girl who amazed when she reached the round of 16 of Wimbledon 2019 in her first participation in a Grand Slam, when she was only 15 years old, threatens this Saturday (15:00) in the Roland Garros final the winning streak of the champion 2020, Iga Swiatek. The Polish woman, who is 21 and is number one in the world, has accumulated 34 consecutive wins, the fifth best record since 1990, equaled with that of Serena Williams (2013), behind her sister Venus (35 in 2000) Monica Seles ( 36 in 1990) and Martina Hingis (37 in 1997).
Gauff has matured a lot since that British major. Especially as a person. In Paris, these days he has surprised with statements in which he puts tennis in the background, below other aspects of life, such as the serious situation in his country, the United States, after the shootings in which children and the elderly died in the United States.
Swiatek, an admirer of Nadal, has beaten Gauff in their previous two duels, but the American is strong. She hasn’t dropped a set on the way to the final and her game, based on consistency, can choke the leader of the ranking, as dominant as she is nervous. Gauff is calm: “I have nothing to lose, because she is the favourite. I am going to play free, my best tennis and anything can happen. And if I win, I don’t think my life will change.”