WTA Finals Preview: Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff Are Finishing Up-and-Down Seasons with New Coaches

**WTA Finals Preview: Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff Are Finishing Up-and-Down Seasons with New Coaches**

As the 2024 WTA Finals approach, two of the biggest names in women’s tennis, Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff, are entering the prestigious season-ending event with a sense of both optimism and uncertainty. Both players have experienced ups and downs throughout the year and are doing so under new coaching arrangements—Świątek with her newly appointed coach, and Gauff with a revamped team after parting ways with her previous coach. As they gear up for the WTA Finals, these two stars will look to cap their seasons with strong performances, despite the challenges and changes they’ve faced in 2024.

### Iga Świątek: Adjusting to New Dynamics

Iga Świątek’s 2024 season has been a mixed bag. After a stellar 2023 that saw her dominate the clay courts and secure a second French Open title, this year, the Polish powerhouse has faced more obstacles, particularly on surfaces outside of her beloved clay. While she remains a force to be reckoned with, her form has been inconsistent at times, particularly on hard courts, and there have been signs of vulnerability in some key matches.

In a significant move to address this, Świątek parted ways with her longtime coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski, in early 2024 and enlisted the help of a new coach to help refine her game further. With a shift in her coaching setup, she’s looking to bolster her mental and tactical game, as well as better adapt to the demands of fast surfaces like hard courts. Świątek’s ability to dominate on clay is unquestioned, but she will need to continue evolving her hard-court game if she is to remain a consistent threat across all surfaces.

Despite the coaching change, Świątek has managed to put together some strong runs this season, including a couple of title wins and a deep run at Wimbledon. As she heads into the WTA Finals, she will be keen to build on her hard-won experience this year, looking to peak when it matters most.

### Coco Gauff: A New Chapter with a New Coach

For 2024, Coco Gauff’s season has been a roller coaster, but one that has seen more highs than lows. The 20-year-old American has continued to rise, winning her first Grand Slam singles title at the 2023 US Open, and carrying that momentum into the following year. However, like Świątek, she’s had her fair share of setbacks, particularly in key matchups against the top players.

In a bid to accelerate her development and hone her already-impressive game, Gauff made a big decision by splitting from her longtime coach, Pere Riba, and bringing on the experienced Brad Gilbert as her new coach. Known for his work with legendary players like Andre Agassi, Gilbert’s arrival marked a fresh chapter in Gauff’s career, with a focus on mental toughness, tactical improvements, and consistency under pressure.

Gauff’s development has been promising, with the American consistently improving her serve, her power, and her decision-making on the court. While she still has room to grow, her ability to fight through adversity has been one of her standout traits in 2024, particularly as she continues to mature as a player. Gauff’s combination of speed, athleticism, and shot-making has been impressive, and with Gilbert by her side, her game has reached new heights.

### WTA Finals Outlook: A Clash of Styles

With both players entering the WTA Finals with new coaching dynamics, their clashes will be intriguing to watch. Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff represent two contrasting playing styles: Świątek’s heavy topspin, tactical approach, and dominance on clay, versus Gauff’s aggressive baseline game, exceptional movement, and growing maturity as a player.

Świątek will need to make sure her new coaching setup translates into better adaptability on hard courts, particularly against the elite players in the field. Gauff, on the other hand, will look to sharpen her consistency and capitalize on her fast, aggressive game under Gilbert’s guidance.

If both players can adapt to their new coaching styles and find their rhythm, the 2024 WTA Finals could see an exciting battle between these two rising stars of women’s tennis. Gauff’s continued rise to the top and Świątek’s quest to regain her dominance on multiple surfaces could make for a captivating competition, showcasing the best of the next generation of women’s tennis.

### The Bigger Picture: Coaching Changes and Evolving Careers

The shift in coaching for both Świątek and Gauff speaks to a broader trend in women’s tennis, where players are constantly evolving their teams to match the demands of the tour. Coaching relationships are critical in shaping a player’s mental and technical development, and both Świątek and Gauff are working hard to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the sport.

For both players, the WTA Finals are more than just another tournament; they are an opportunity to validate the hard work they’ve put into improving their game. With a new chapter in their coaching stories, Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff are ready to finish 2024 strong, hoping to emerge from the WTA Finals with more than just a title— they want to set the stage for the next phase of their illustrious careers.

### Conclusion

The WTA Finals in 2024 promise to deliver high drama, and Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff are sure to be central figures in that story. With both players working with new coaches, their ability to adjust and perform under pressure will be key to their success. Whether Świątek can refine her hard-court game to match her clay court dominance, or Gauff can continue her meteoric rise under the guidance of Brad Gilbert, one thing is certain: these two young stars are poised for an exciting showdown at the year-end tournament.