French Open: Chris Evert praises Iga Svidek after win over Coco Gough – 'not tested’

Chris Evert believes Iga Swiatek is „still untested in this tournament” after beating world No 1 Coco Gauff to reach the French Open semi-finals.

Roland-Garros took Pole one step closer to the titles, and a possible, highly-anticipated final meeting with Arina Sabalenka if the No. 1 and 2 seeds make their respective semifinals.

Eurosport’s Chris Evert was watching during Wednesday’s quarter-final, praising the Pole for finding his „A-game” in what was crucial.

Evert said: “It was [tighter than last year’s final]. The first set was 4-4, 30-30 and I was thinking, 'Wow, this is the highest quality women’s tennis match we’ve ever seen; They both play well, and then Iga mentally – she is very strong.

„She challenges Coco to be mentally aware, in the moment, of every point, and Iga can do that, whereas Coco at 19 can’t do that.

„The second set was less tense; Koko made a lot of forehand errors and mishit a few balls. It wasn’t the highest quality, but you do credit to Iga, coming out against a dangerous opponent and finding her. A game.

„She wasn’t even tested in this tournament. She found her A-game and played well.”

Evert felt that his fellow American Goff could have changed his tactics more, while Switek observed that he was better in most areas.

„After that first set, Coco had to change something, if you lose, you have to change. Once she started coming into the net, I thought she could have done more drop-shots. She was throwing everything. But at one point the kitchen sank, but that’s not her game.

„Iga beat her at her game. Iga now does everything but volley better than Coco. There’s no other area — mentally, emotionally, physically — that she moves like Coco.

„Coco is incredibly good defensively, probably to match his offense, but Iga is a great defender as well.

„Coco could find no answer; a chin in armor.”

Henman, along with Evert at Eurosport, felt that Switek was a „significant hurdle” to overcome.

He said: „Forehands, Swiatek’s and Gauff’s – that’s a big difference. Swiatek is more aggressive, more consistent with that forehand, plays with more power and spin, doesn’t make mistakes, hits a lot of winners.

„That’s one of her biggest weapons and she’s confident on any surface, but especially clay.

„It’s a big tournament – last year’s final – and it’s another significant hurdle that Switec has overcome.”

Swiatek now faces Beatriz Haddad Maia in the last four, while Sabalenka plays Karolina Muchova in the other semi-final.

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Strap yourself in for a live sports rollercoaster ride on June 10th and 11th. It’s Champions League weekend live on Eurosport, Discovery+ and BT Sport, with finals from Roland-Garros, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Speedway Grand Prix, UCI Mountain Bike World Series, Criterium du Dauphine, MotoGP and Champions League finals. .