Swiatek had an up-close look, losing to Gauff in the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia in November and in the final of the United Cup team event last week in Sydney. Both were straight-set results and came after Swiatek had led their head-to-head series 11-1.

Gauff could hit some of the hardest first serves on tour, but her iffy second serve and wonky forehand had never been a secret. When she hits a forehand, she uses what’s known as an extreme Western grip,

Coco Gauff stretched her unbeaten start to 2025 to seven matches and 14 sets by moving into the third round at the Australian Open.