Iga Swiatek Beats Coco Gauff at WTA Finals

Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek in action against US player Coco Gauff during the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, 01 November 2023.  EPA/ALONSO CUPUL
Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek in action against US player Coco Gauff during the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, 01 November 2023. EPA/ALONSO CUPUL
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Iga Swiatek Beats Coco Gauff at WTA Finals

Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek in action against US player Coco Gauff during the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, 01 November 2023.  EPA/ALONSO CUPUL
Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek in action against US player Coco Gauff during the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, 01 November 2023. EPA/ALONSO CUPUL

US Open champion Coco Gauff double-faulted four times in a row while serving for the second set and wound up losing 6-0, 7-5 to three-time major title winner Iga Swiatek in round-robin action at the WTA Finals in Mexico on a windy Wednesday night.

“A tough day in the office for me,” said Gauff, who also lost a doubles match Wednesday. “I mentally didn’t stay in it when I was serving for it.”

According to The Associated Press, she said the wind didn't help things, nor did a recent break of about two weeks without serving because of a shoulder injury.
“I have done well throughout the year, serving well,” the third-seeded Gauff said, “so I’m not going to let ... (a) bad two games define how I serve.”
There were plenty of empty seats at the temporary hard court — and Swiatek noticed.
“It's a shame that we don’t have a full stadium,” she said afterward.
“Hopefully for the future, there’s not going to be any more situation like that, and they’re going to work to improve that,” the second-seeded Swiatek said.
The WTA's decision to host the event in Cancun was not announced until September.



Messi to Get Presidential Medal of Freedom from Biden

Argentina's Lionel Messi was involved in both goals on Thursday night, setting up the second for Lautaro Martinez in the 88th minute and extending his tournament assists record to 18. Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images
Argentina's Lionel Messi was involved in both goals on Thursday night, setting up the second for Lautaro Martinez in the 88th minute and extending his tournament assists record to 18. Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images
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Messi to Get Presidential Medal of Freedom from Biden

Argentina's Lionel Messi was involved in both goals on Thursday night, setting up the second for Lautaro Martinez in the 88th minute and extending his tournament assists record to 18. Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images
Argentina's Lionel Messi was involved in both goals on Thursday night, setting up the second for Lautaro Martinez in the 88th minute and extending his tournament assists record to 18. Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images

Joe Biden on Saturday will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 honorees, bestowing the highest civilian honor in the United States to entertainers, sports stars, politicians and diplomats.

Among those to receive honors from the outgoing US president are basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson and soccer superstar Lionel Messi, AFP reported.

The honorees "are great leaders because they are good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world," the White House said in a statement,