Coco Gauff has spoken boldly after beating Iga Swiatek for a second consecutive match. The American discussed how much more confident she feels before and during matches against the Pole.
Before last year's WTA Finals, Swiatek had beaten Gauff in 11 of their 12 meetings. The 11th victory came in the semifinal of the French Open, a match that included Gauff crying after a controversial umpiring call did not go her way.
However, the 20-year-old's fortunes have shifted in their last two meetings. Gauff defeated Swiatek in the round-robin stage during her run to the WTA Finals title in November after a dominant performance.
One loss did not seem like anything to be concerned about for Swiatek after dominating so much against Gauff. Their meeting in the United Cup Final was a test of whether the 2023 US Open champion had turned the corner against her rival.
Gauff answered that question emphatically by winning a match of stunning quality 6-4, 6-4. Swiatek played her best match of the tournament against the World No. 3, but still could not even take the match to a deciding set.
It was also a strong mental performance from Gauff after Swiatek's medical timeout at 4-6, 4-5 down, especially after the Polish player admitted afterward that she was not injured but tired.
However, Gauff did not let it impact her. She won the next game to confirm another straight-sets win against the Pole, and Team USA went on to win the final and title.
Gauff spoke about her improved results on the WTA Insider Podcast. The young star admitted she did not always have the belief that she could beat Swiatek, but that has shifted in their last couple of matches.
"She has a great head start [in the head-to-head], so depending on how many more times we play, I don't know if I'll catch up. But at this point, it doesn't feel like it's so heavily favored her way. Any day, I can step on the court, and I can win, which maybe before I didn't believe that."
"I can't say that I'm going to beat her every time I play her now, but I also can't say that she's going to be me every time I play her now. But before I would say I definitely felt a little bit of defeat stepping on the court but now I don't."
"I know I have the ability to do it and it's just about what happens that day. It always comes down to a few points between us."
Gauff will have a chance to prove her confidence at the upcoming Australian Open. The first Grand Slam of the season starts on January 12th, and since she and Swiatek will be the second and third seeds, they can only meet in the semi-finals or the final of the tournament.