RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff kicked off their WTA Finals campaigns with victories in Riyadh on Sunday, though each took a different path to victory.
Swiatek, defending her title, pulled off a gritty comeback, rallying from a set and a double-break deficit to defeat eighth-seeded Barbora Krejcikova 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in two hours and 33 minutes. The win was crucial for Swiatek, the Polish second seed, as she aims to reclaim the No. 1 ranking from Aryna Sabalenka.
Meanwhile, third-ranked American Gauff dispatched compatriot and U.S. Open finalist Jessica Pegula in a smooth 6-3, 6-2 victory, wrapping up her match in 75 minutes. Gauff’s win broke a three-match losing streak against Pegula.
“She’s always a tough opponent, especially in these conditions,” said Gauff. “Overall, I’m happy with how I played. It was sometimes sloppy, sometimes great, but that’s tennis. I just managed to break through on the more important points.”
Earlier, Swiatek took to the court at King Saud University Indoor Arena for her first match in two months. Initially trailing 4-6, 0-3, she turned the tide to defeat Krejcikova.
“For sure it wasn’t easy,” Swiatek said after the match. “At the start, I felt a bit rusty, but I’m happy I found a way to play more solid. I knew I had this game in me; I just needed to find it.”
Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, had not competed since her U.S. Open quarterfinal loss in early September. She arrived in Riyadh with a new coach, Belgian Wim Fissette, after ending her three-year coaching relationship with Tomasz Wiktorowski.
Krejcikova, ranked No. 13 globally, earned her place in the WTA Finals through a new rule that prioritizes a Grand Slam champion ranked between ninth and 20th over the eighth-ranked player in the tournament race.
SWIATEK’S FIGHTBACK
Swiatek faced three break points in her opening service game, saving the first two before sending a forehand long to concede an early break. Krejcikova capitalized, building a 4-2 lead and eventually taking the first set in 47 minutes.
In the second set, Krejcikova gained a 3-0 advantage and seemed poised for a straight-sets win, but Swiatek fought back, capturing the next four games and gaining the lead for the first time. Krejcikova double-faulted, offering Swiatek two set points, and Swiatek clinched the second to force a deciding set.
With momentum on her side, Swiatek surged to a 5-0 lead in the third set. Though Krejcikova managed one break, Swiatek quickly broke back to secure the win.
After Sabalenka’s first-round win over Zheng Qinwen on Saturday, Swiatek now needs to claim the WTA Finals title and at least two round-robin victories to finish the season as the top-ranked player.
