Heading into the final, Gauff had lost the first set in three straight matches and the former U.S. Open champion seemed determined to buck that trend, serving to love in the opening game and breaking early for a 2-0 lead.
The loss ends five-time major champion Swiatek's bid to become the first woman to win the tournament in the Southern California desert three times.
It was the 27-year-old Japanese player's first WTA title since she became a mother in July 2023.
Elena Rybakina powered into her first Cincinnati Open semi-final after stunning defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-1, 6-4 on Friday, while five-times Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz recovered from a second-set blip to beat Andrey Rublev.
Andreeva bids for Paris glory after stellar start to season
Venus Williams, 45, made an age-defying return to tennis this year, becoming the oldest WTA singles match winner since 2004 in July.
Gauff seeks to eliminate service errors ahead of French Open tilt
The world number three has won eight out of her last nine matches on outdoor red clay, losing only to world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid Open final.
Third seed Alexander Zverev eased past home favourite Ugo Humbert
Jannik Sinner begins his Australian Open title defence against Nicolas Jarry while women's champion Aryna Sabalenka takes on 2017 U.S. Open winner Sloane Stephens
The US Open announced $90 million in prize money will be on offer at this year's final major, marking the largest purse in tennis history, up 20 percent from 2024.
Iga Swiatek arrives at the US Open with her sights set on a seventh Grand Slam title and a potential return to World No. 1 to cap what she calls a remarkable year of redemption following "the worst experience of my life".
At this year's US Open second-round match against Sorana Cirstea, Muchova broke down mid-match in a scene that was as human as it was unexpected.
It was an emotional win for Aryna Sabalenka, who missed Wimbledon last month due to a shoulder injury.
Germany's Tatjana Maria was named the Comeback Player of the Year after reaching her first Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon after missing three majors last year due to the birth of her second daughter.
MERTENS OVERPOWERS RUSE TO WIN FIRST GRASS TITLE
Venus Williams enjoyed a winning return to tennis after more than a year away from the game in the women's doubles at the Washington Open on Monday.
Sania Mirza and her Russian partner Elena Vesnina notched up a straight-set win over Ji Zheng and Peng Shuai to enter the final of the Family Circle Cup WTA event in Charleston, USA.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka overcame a second-set fightback by fourth seed Coco Gauff to clinch her third Madrid Open.
Shelton blasted an ace on match point to seal the win and avenge his five-set loss to Tiafoe at last year's U.S. Open as the 22-year-old continues to make strides in his breakout season.
Factbox on Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka, who beat China's Zheng Qinwen in the Australian Open final on Saturday
World No 2 Serena Williams has withdrawn from the season-ending WTA Championships in Singapore due to a shoulder injury.
Following the cancellation, the Korea Open in Seoul is the only event left in Asia on WTA's provisional calendar for 2020.
U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka will face world number four Coco Gauff in the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open after both players earned straight-set wins in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Renata Zarazua, the only Mexican player in the US Open main draw, pulled off a stunning upset by beating sixth seed Madison Keys in the first round.
Muguruza wins all-Spanish clash with Badosa at WTA Finals
Iga Swiatek survived a surprise U.S. Open second-round test on Thursday as men's top seed Jannik Sinner and Japan's four-times major winner Naomi Osaka cruised through.
Germany's Angelique Kerber has clinched the eighth and final spot at the WTA's season-ending championships in Istanbul later this month after reaching the semi-finals of the Linz Open.
For Billie Jean King, her leading role in the foundation of the WTA half a century ago ranks above the many successes she enjoyed on court.
Aryna Sabalenka is the red-hot favourite at Melbourne Park, where another victory would give her a fourth major title and widen the gap in the rankings to Poland's Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff of the United States.
Coco Gauff was given a solid workout by former champion Sofia Kenin but continued her lengthy winning streak
Zheng's win improved her record at the Pan Pacific Open to 8-1, with the 22-year-old having lost in the 2022 final to Liudmila Samsonova in her only previous appearance in the tournament.
World Number one Simona Halep and Japan's Naomi Osaka are among the players nominated for the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Player of the Year award.
Andy Murray took a step closer to a first title in arguably the toughest year of his playing career, grinding out a 3-6, 7-5 ,6-2 win over Ugo Humbert on Saturday to reach the final of the European Open in Antwerp.
As the 2025 French Open looms, all eyes may be on reigning champions and top seeds - but lurking just beneath the surface are several players quietly building momentum, ready to crash the party in Paris. From seasoned champions finding renewed form to rising stars with something to prove, here are four dark horses who could shake up the women's singles draw at Roland Garros.
The five top contenders for the women's title at the Australian Open, which starts on Monday.
Tennis great and founder of the WTA Billie Jean King was among those who applauded the announcement.
Three contenders for the women's singles title at the Australian Open.
Third seed Andrey Rublev suffered a first round exit after his Qatar Open title, losing to qualifier Quentin Halys 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) at the Dubai Open on Tuesday.
Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Wuhan and China Opens due to a persistent shoulder injury and is targeting a return to action in next month's WTA Finals in Singapore, the World No 2 said on Friday.
