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.



French Open Organizers Introduce Draw to Access Ticket Sales

Spectators watch as Italy's Fabio Fognini serves against Australia's Alexei Popyrin during their first round match at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, May 22, 2022. (AP)
Spectators watch as Italy's Fabio Fognini serves against Australia's Alexei Popyrin during their first round match at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, May 22, 2022. (AP)
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French Open Organizers Introduce Draw to Access Ticket Sales

Spectators watch as Italy's Fabio Fognini serves against Australia's Alexei Popyrin during their first round match at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, May 22, 2022. (AP)
Spectators watch as Italy's Fabio Fognini serves against Australia's Alexei Popyrin during their first round match at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, May 22, 2022. (AP)

French Open organizers are introducing a draw system to access ticket sales for the clay-court Grand Slam tournament.

The French tennis federation said Tuesday it faces an “ever-increasing demand” and that the trial of a random draw for the general public should help reduce waiting times and ensure a fairer access to seats.

“Finally, this new sales system will make it possible to combat fraud and the purchase of tickets by bots,” organizers said.

Registration for the draw will run from Jan. 27 to Feb. 9. Being selected in the draw will guarantee access to ticket sales, but not necessarily the right to receive tickets for a specific day or court, organizers said.

The French federation has also limited the maximum number of tickets one can buy for the main courts to four per person.

The French Open takes place from May 25-June 8 at Roland Garros stadium in Paris.