WTA Finals: Coco Gauff beats Swiatek to reach semifinals

Coco Gauff achieved a rare victory over Iga Swiatek in Riyadh, advancing to the semifinals of the WTA Finals with a 6-3, 6-4 win. Swiatek, who needed a win to stay in contention for the year-end No. 1 ranking, saw her hopes dashed as the American secured her second straight-sets victory in the tournament.

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Despite Swiatek's 11-1 head-to-head record against Gauff, the American dominated, using aggressive returns to create break-point opportunities in nearly every Swiatek service game of the first set. After claiming the first set in 49 minutes, Gauff maintained her momentum in the second set, steadying herself after trading breaks with Swiatek to seal the match on the Pole’s 47th unforced error.

“It feels great,” Gauff said after the match. “I knew I had to come in with confidence, and it paid off.”

Krejcikova Knocks Pegula Out of Semifinal Contention

Earlier, Barbora Krejcikova eliminated Jessica Pegula from semifinal contention with a 6-3, 6-3 victory. The eighth seed’s strong serving, including 11 aces, and four breaks helped her keep her hopes alive in Riyadh. Krejcikova, who benefited from a new WTA Finals rule prioritizing Grand Slam winners ranked 9-20, defeated Pegula in 69 minutes, rebounding after an earlier loss to Swiatek.

“It’s nice to get the win and still be part of the event,” said Krejcikova. Both Krejcikova and Swiatek will await Thursday’s results to determine their chances of progressing.

SportsLigue