Iga Swiatek Says She 'Couldn't Give 100%' During United Cup Loss To Coco Gauff
News
Iga Swiatek claimed she was unable to compete effectively against Coco Gauff during their United Cup match earlier this month because of not being able to move much.
Gauff defeated Swiatek 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the United Cup. The match was superb to watch, with several excellent rallies and superb athleticism on show between two of the best players on the WTA Tour. Gauff's win put Team USA 1-0 up.
One controversial moment during the contest was when Swiatek suddenly took a medical timeout at 4-6, 4-5. Doing this with Gauff just one game from victory and after she had recovered from an early break down in the second set was suspect timing.
The four-time French Open champion's words about it in a press conference afterward added further to the controversy. Swiatek said she did not take the medical timeout for an injury but because she was tired.
Using a medical timeout for this reason is against the rules, making Swiatek's admission surprising. However, based on her remarks at the ongoing Australian Open, there may have been more of an issue than the Pole revealed at the time.
In a press conference after delivering a masterclass against Emma Raducanu in the third round, Swiatek said she could not give her best effort in the United Cup clash with Gauff because she was struggling to move.
"I couldn't give 100% in that match with Coco. Obviously, she earned it and she played really nice and aggressive. But at the end I couldn't really move much because everything hurt me."
Swiatek seems to be indicating she was dealing with pains all over her body after her significant efforts to help Team Poland reach the final. That is slightly more serious than just being tired, although it is also not a specific injury.
The WTA world No. 2 then said she would like to compete against Gauff again when she is not suffering from any pain and is physically ready since the American is one of the best athletes ever seen in women's tennis.
"For sure I would like to play again with Coco when I'm more fit and ready to run and everything because with Coco you need to be physically ready, she's running a lot as well. The rallies can be long."
Swiatek's words are surprising on one level since the United Cup match with Gauff contained outstanding athleticism from both players. That remained the case even in the latter stages of the contest when Swiatek would have been feeling it the most.
However, only Swiatek knows how she was feeling. The 23-year-old may have been hiding it well and fighting effectively through the pain to try to help her team win the United Cup. Poland lost the final 0-2 after Taylor Fritz won a close match against Hubert Hurkacz.
Gauff and Swiatek could meet in the Australian Open final. The five-time Grand Slam champion might play Elena Rybakina in the semifinal, but that prospect is more doubtful because the Kazakhstani could withdraw from the tournament with an injury.
