Poland’s Iga Swiatek was already well behind against Barbora Krejcikova, but still managed to turn the match in her favor.
Title defender Iga Swiatek has pulled off a major victory to avoid an opening defeat at the WTA Finals in Riyadh. The Pole won her first of three group matches against Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic on Sunday 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, and can thus continue to hope for a return to the top of the world tennis rankings.
Her rival Aryna Sabalenka, the current number one, had overcome her first hurdle with ease on Saturday, beating Chinese Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-4. Swiatek now had a tougher time: she lost the first set, and in the second she lost two service games and trailed 0-3. After splitting up with her coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and taking a break from competition, she didn’t seem to be back on top form yet – but then she still found her way into the game.
Swiatek and Sabalenka win
“It wasn’t easy, at first I felt a bit rusty,” said Swiatek. “But I knew I had this game in me, I just had to find it.” For Swiatek, the WTA Final Tournament is her debut with her new coach Wim Fissette.
The critically-followed event in Saudi Arabia is all about the duel between the two dominators of recent years. Swiatek and the Belarusian Sabalenka can still secure the top position in the WTA world rankings at the end of the year.
Sabalenka, who triumphed at the Australian Open and the US Open this year, is in the better starting position, having entered the tournament with a lead and as number one. Swiatek, winner of this year’s French Open, would have to win the title in Riyadh and hope for at least one defeat for Sabalenka before the possible final to end the season at the top.
Until November 9, the eight best individual players and eight best doubles teams of the tennis year will play to determine the winners. Unlike other WTA tournaments, a group stage with four groups will be played at the beginning of the event. The top two players from each group will advance to the semi-finals. In the second game on Sunday, Coco Gauff won the US duel against Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-2.