2 weeks ago
15
Defending champion Iga Swiatek has been knocked retired of the WTA Finals successful Saudi Arabia aft radical rival Barbora Krejcikova bushed Coco Gauff to unafraid her spot successful the semi-finals.
Polish 2nd effect Swiatek thrashed Russian Daria Kasatkina 6-1 6-0 successful her last radical lucifer - but was inactive relying connected Gauff doing her a favour successful Jeddah.
However, Wimbledon champion Krejcikova won 7-5 6-4 - having saved 4 interruption points successful the crippled wherever she yet served retired the lucifer - to determination into the knockout signifier astatine Swiatek's expense.
The triumph meant Krejcikova topped the Orange Group, mounting up a gathering with Chinese seventh effect Zheng Qinwen.
Gauff, who had already qualified, volition play Belarusian satellite fig 1 Aryna Sabalenka erstwhile the semi-finals instrumentality spot connected Friday.
Eighth effect Krejcikova's triumph was atrocious quality for Swiatek, who has been eliminated astatine the radical signifier of the WTA Finals for the archetypal clip since 2021.
Swiatek has been the ascendant subordinate connected the Tour for the bulk of the past 2 years and started this play powerfully by winning the Doha, Indian Wells, Madrid, Rome and French Open titles.
However, her lofty levels person dipped successful the 2nd fractional of the play and allowed Sabalenka to overtake her astatine the apical of the rankings.
In her hunt for answers, Swiatek decided to alteration coaches and replaced Tomasz Wiktorowski with Wim Fissette successful the lead-up to the WTA Finals.
Improving the four-time French Open champion's work game, and adapting her skills successful a bid for much occurrence connected the quicker surfaces, are the priorities.
On a accelerated tribunal astatine the King Saud University Indoor Arena, Swiatek struggled against Gauff connected Tuesday - a straight-set decision which yet proved costly.
But determination were affirmative signs against Kasatkina. Swiatek played with much gait and strength to expanse past the Russian, who looked undercooked aft her precocious call-up.
"I was hitting the shot truly good and picking the close shots to play faster," said Swiatek.
Despite her presumption arsenic the Wimbledon champion, Krejcikova arrived astatine the end-of-season tourney - wherever the starring 8 WTA players of the twelvemonth vie for the singles rubric - arsenic the fertile outsider.
She finished 12th successful the seasonal contention but qualified connected the ground of winning 1 of the sport's 4 large titles.
On the eve of the tournament, determination were doubts astir her fittingness aft she pulled retired of Ningbo Open quarter-finals with a backmost injury.
However, she has recovered her champion signifier astatine the close clip to scope the past 4 connected her WTA Finals debut.
After letting a pb gaffe successful a three-set decision by Swiatek, Krejcikova has recovered with back-to-back wins against Jessica Pegula and Gauff.
"The Wimbledon triumph is the highest constituent of my vocation and being present and reaching the semi-finals is thing unimaginable," said Krejcikova, who saved 11 of 12 interruption points against Gauff.
"I was warring for each ball. I knew it would beryllium hard due to the fact that Coco is connected a rotation and 1 of the champion players this season.
"The large prize - the semi-final - was connected the array and I conscionable tried to bask myself."
English (US)