Iga Swiatek explains what she wished she had done differently in her heavy defeat to Coco Gauff in Madrid

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Iga Swiatek is usually so dominant on clay but Coco Gauff had other ideas as she ended her rival’s Madrid Open title defence in empathic fashion.

The Pole had struggled throughout the tournament, after losing the first set in three of her five matches.

Once again the World number two fell behind, this time to Coco Gauff in Thursday’s semi-final, but the American ensured there was no way back for Swiatek this time.

The 23-year-old produced one of the most disappointing performances of her career as Gauff defeated Swiatek 6-1 6-1 and in the process won her third successive match against her.

Iga Swiatek says what contributed to her Madrid Open defeat against Coco Gauff

Iga Swiatek had to work extremely hard to reach the Madrid Open semi-finals. She was not at her free-flowing best and three of her five matches went to a deciding set. But Thursday’s performance against Gauff left fans well and truly stunned.

Swiatek managed to win just two games as she hit an astonishing 21 unforced errors while winning just 35% of her first serve points.

The fans could not believe the level Swiatek produced and after her Madrid title defence came to a shock end, she assessed her display and what she could have improved.

“Today, for sure, everything collapsed tennis-wise,” she said. “I feel like I wasn’t even in the right place with my feet before the shots.

“I wish I would have moved better because I think that would give me an opportunity to bounce back, because this is usually what happens.”

Swiatek said she didn’t think the difficulty she is having with her movement is connected to a lack of self confidence. “No, because I felt fine today,” she said. “I’m not a different player than I was like for past years in terms of my attitude or my emotions.”

Coco Gauff has chance to overtake Iga Swiatek in WTA rankings

Gauff’s latest win over Swiatek was a significant one not just because it was convincing, but there are also significant ranking implications.

Should the American go on to win the Madrid Open, it would not only make her first WTA 1000 title on clay, but she would also become the World number two.

Swiatek will lose some ranking points after failing to defend the title and in the process Gauff, currently number four, would also leapfrog her compatriot Jessica Pegula, who is the current World number three.

As far as Swiatek goes, it is back to the drawing board and her attention will turn to the Italian Open as she bids to defend the title there before heading to the French Open.

In Paris Swiatek will aim for her fifth French Open title and fourth in a row, which would would futher establish her dominance at the clay court Grand Slam.