The defending champion, Iga Swiatek, was eliminated from the WTA Finals after Barbora Krejcikova defeated Coco Gauff, securing her place in the semi-finals. Swiatek had earlier dominated Daria Kasatkina, who stepped in for the injured Jessica Pegula, winning 6-1, 6-0 in the day's opening match in Riyadh. However, her advancement hinged on the outcome of the second match, where her fortunes waned as Wimbledon champion Krejcikova triumphed over Gauff 7-5, 6-4. All three players concluded the group stage with two wins from three matches, but Krejcikova, the lowest-ranked competitor in the tournament, advanced due to her superior sets percentage, leaving Swiatek out.
Krejcikova, representing the Czech Republic, will face Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in the semi-finals on Friday, while Gauff will meet world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Krejcikova’s unexpected Wimbledon victory marked the highlight of an otherwise underwhelming season. Yet, she has excelled in Saudi Arabia, rebounding from a three-set loss to Swiatek in her initial match by defeating Pegula and Gauff, saving 11 of 12 break points on Thursday.
“This is a significant win for me,” the 28-year-old said in her on-court interview. “I’m thrilled with my performance. Qualifying for the Finals and reaching the semi-finals was beyond my expectations before this tournament. I’m immensely proud of myself and eagerly await new challenges.”
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