Defending champion Iga Swiatek has been eliminated from the WTA Finals after Barbora Krejcikova’s stunning 7-5, 6-4 victory over Coco Gauff on Thursday. The win allowed Krejcikova to advance to the semifinals, while Swiatek’s hopes of retaining her title were dashed.
Gauff, already assured of a semifinal spot, could have helped Swiatek progress by defeating the Czech eighth seed. However, Krejcikova needed the victory herself to move forward, making for a high-stakes match between the two.
In a tightly contested first set lasting 54 minutes, Krejcikova saved four break points before sealing it with a powerful backhand down the line. Gauff, the reigning US Open champion, was troubled by unforced errors, committing 23 in the opening set alone.
The second set remained a close affair, but Krejcikova held her nerve to secure the match in one hour and 42 minutes. “This is a big win for me, and I’m really happy with how I played,” the 27-year-old said. “Reaching the semifinals is unimaginable. I’m really proud of myself and looking forward to new challenges.”
Krejcikova becomes the lowest-ranked player to reach the semifinals at the WTA Finals since Sandrine Testud in 2001. She will face China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen next, while Gauff is set to clash with world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a highly anticipated semifinal.
Earlier in the day, Swiatek delivered a dominant performance by defeating Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-0 in just 51 minutes—the fastest match at the WTA Finals in eight years. Swiatek won 72 percent of her points on serve and struck 15 winners, extending her head-to-head record against Kasatkina to 6-1.
Despite her commanding victory, Swiatek’s fate hinged on the match between Gauff and Krejcikova. With Krejcikova’s win, the Polish star was unable to advance. Notably, Swiatek equaled Serena Williams’ record of five 6-0 set wins at the WTA Finals, highlighting her dominance even in elimination.
Reference(s):
Swiatek knocked out of WTA Finals after Krejcikova beats Gauff
cgtn.com
