American star coco Gauff ends Iga Swiatek’s Madrid reign with a brutal 6-1 6-1 win to reach final.

Coco Gauff crushed Iga Swiatek 6-1 6-1 in a dominant Madrid Open semi-final on Thursday, finally breaking her clay-court curse against the four-time French Open champion in just 64 ruthless minutes.

The 21-year-old American entered the contest without a single clay win against the world number two but left no doubt about her form, dismantling Swiatek in straight sets and booking a showdown with world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

Gauff, who had previously been beaten by Swiatek in all three of their clay-court meetings, played with aggression and control from the outset, slamming seven aces and winning 19 of 21 points on her first serve. The performance not only snapped Swiatek’s nine-match winning streak in Madrid but also marked one of the heaviest defeats of the Pole’s career.

“I was aggressive and played with margin,” Gauff said on court. “Maybe it wasn’t her best level, but I felt great out there—much better than I did in the first round.”

This semi-final was a far cry from Gauff’s shaky start to the tournament, where she narrowly edged past Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska in three sets. But any signs of nerves or inconsistency had vanished by the time she stepped onto the clay to face the reigning champion.

Swiatek, who had won 15 of her last 16 matches in Madrid and was aiming for a third consecutive final, looked stunned by Gauff’s intensity. The top-seeded Pole struggled to find rhythm or range, with her typically reliable baseline game falling apart under the pressure.

Gauff’s ability to consistently dictate play left Swiatek scrambling. With deep returns, blistering forehands, and clinical net approaches, the American suffocated her opponent’s counter-punching style. Every time Swiatek tried to mount a comeback, Gauff slammed the door shut.

The contrast in form couldn’t have been starker. Swiatek, who had seemed untouchable on clay just days ago, was visibly rattled—committing unforced errors and failing to generate a single break point throughout the match. By the time the second set raced away from her at 5-1, the result felt inevitable.

“Obviously on clay she’s a different player, but clay is one of my better surfaces too,” Gauff said. “I thought if I can beat her on hard, I can beat her on clay.”

Gauff’s belief seems well placed. Since lifting her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open, she’s continued to grow as a complete player, mixing power with improved shot selection. Her movement and defence on clay, once seen as a relative weakness, now complement her explosive offensive game.

Standing in her way in Saturday’s final will be Aryna Sabalenka, who had earlier defeated Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-3 7-5 in a tough but composed semi-final performance. The Belarusian, a two-time Madrid Open champion, has looked sharp throughout the week and holds a psychological edge after beating Gauff in their last two meetings.

Still, with Gauff producing arguably the most clinical win of her career, the stage is now set for a blockbuster final between the top two seeds. For Swiatek, it’s a sobering defeat and a reminder that even her beloved clay courts offer no guarantees against a player of Gauff’s calibre and form.

As Gauff celebrated with a smile and wave to the crowd, one thing was clear: this wasn’t just a win—it was a statement.