\n<\/p>\n
Coco Gauff produced a stunning display to thrash four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek 6-1 6-1 and reach the final of the Madrid Open.<\/b><\/p>\n
Gauff, 21, had never beaten her Polish opponent on clay before but took just 64 minutes to dispatch the world number two.<\/p>\n
American Gauff will play world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the final.<\/p>\n
Belarusian Sabalenka beat Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-3 7-5 in their semi-final. <\/p>\n
Reigning champion Swiatek had won nine consecutive matches in Madrid – and 15 of 16 going back to her loss to Sabalenka in the 2023 final – but had no answer to Gauff.<\/p>\n
Gauff, who won the US Open in 2023, hit seven aces and won 19 of 21 points on her first serve in a dominant performance.<\/p>\n
“I was aggressive and played with margin. Maybe it wasn’t her best level,” Gauff said in her on-court interview.<\/p>\n
The American, who edged past Dayana Yastremska in three sets in her opening match last week, added: “I felt great out here on the court today, much different to my first match here in the first round.<\/p>\n
“I think the previous times we played on clay I don’t think I had a win against her yet.<\/p>\n
“Obviously on clay she’s a different player, but clay is one of my better surfaces too, and I thought if I can beat her on hard I can beat her on clay.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n