Swiatek Exits WTA Finals, Krejcikova Progresses to Semis
Iga Swiatek, world number two, faced a disappointing end to her WTA Finals journey on Thursday as Barbora Krejcikova’s victory over Coco Gauff sealed the Pole’s elimination from the tournament. Krejcikova’s 7-5, 6-4 triumph over the American secured her spot in the semifinals and eliminated Swiatek, who needed Gauff to win in order to advance from the group stage.
Despite a commanding performance earlier in the day where Swiatek defeated alternate Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-0 in just 51 minutes, her fate lay beyond her control. The result against Kasatkina did not impact her qualification chances, as Swiatek had already logged one win and one loss prior to Thursday’s round-robin matches. Her hopes of progressing hinged solely on Gauff’s performance against Krejcikova—a scenario that ultimately did not unfold in her favor.
Krejcikova’s path to the semifinals marks her first time reaching this stage in the WTA Finals in only her second singles appearance. The Czech star, known for her tenacious play, saved 11 of 12 break points during her match against Gauff and clinched the victory with a service winner after a tense one hour and 42 minutes. "It was a really big match," Krejcikova said, expressing her excitement and pride in overcoming the challenge posed by Gauff, who has had an outstanding season.
This victory not only secured Krejcikova the top position in the Orange Group but also set her up for a semifinal showdown against Zheng Qinwen. Meanwhile, Gauff advanced as the runner-up and will face world number one Aryna Sabalenka. Krejcikova, despite having a modest season with only 21 match wins, capitalized on a new 2024 WTA rule that gives reigning Grand Slam champions priority entry into the Finals. This rule allowed her to secure the last spot over world number eight Emma Navarro, who opted out of competing as an alternate in Riyadh.
The rule change has stirred some debate, with Kasatkina—who earned $200,000 as an alternate replacing Jessica Pegula—expressing reservations. Kasatkina emphasized that the WTA Finals should be reserved for the top eight players based on points accumulated throughout the year. "In my opinion, the WTA Race is the WTA Race. So it's about how many points you earn during the year," she said, implying that Krejcikova’s entry due to her Wimbledon win was contentious.
Swiatek, reflecting on her exit, admitted she was unaware that her qualification depended on the evening match. However, she remained philosophical about her performance. “I won two matches in the group, so I guess I did everything I could to be there,” she said. Although the tournament's outcome was disappointing, Swiatek’s season will continue as she leads Poland in the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup Finals, starting November 13 in Malaga.
With Krejcikova’s unexpected run and Swiatek’s exit, the 2024 WTA Finals have already showcased the unpredictability and fierce competition at the highest level of women’s tennis.
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Swiatek Exits WTA Finals, Krejcikova Progresses to Semis
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