Iga Swiatek Stages Incredible Comeback to Beat Barbora Krejcikova at WTA Finals
Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff launched their WTA Finals campaigns in Riyadh with triumphant starts on Sunday, albeit in notably different styles.
Swiatek, defending her title, executed a remarkable comeback, recovering from a set down and a double-break deficit to defeat eighth seed Barbora Krejcikova 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in a grueling match spanning 2 hours and 33 minutes.
This victory was vital for the Polish second seed as she aims to reclaim the No. 1 ranking currently held by Aryna Sabalenka.
In contrast, Gauff, third in the world rankings, experienced a smoother outing. She dispatched her fellow American and U.S. Open finalist Jessica Pegula with a convincing scoreline of 6-3, 6-2 after just 75 minutes on court.
“She’s always a tough opponent, and playing under these conditions can be challenging,” Gauff remarked, noting her triumph over Pegula ended a three-match losing streak against her. “I’m just happy with my performance overall. It was a bit uneven at times, but that’s the nature of tennis. I believe we both played at a high standard, but I managed to come through on the crucial points.”
Earlier, at the King Saud University Indoor Arena, Swiatek found herself in a precarious position. After falling behind 4-6, 0-3, she dug deep to stage a remarkable recovery against Krejcikova.
“It wasn’t easy, that’s for sure,” Swiatek acknowledged, ending the match with 10 aces. “In the beginning, I felt somewhat rusty, but I’m pleased I could find a way to stabilize my game.”
She continued, “I aimed to implement the usual tactics to gain more control over the ball, which was flying off my racket. I knew I had the game within me; I just needed to uncover it. Remaining patient was tough, but ultimately, I’m glad I persisted and didn’t focus too much on the score.”
The five-time major champion had taken a break from competitive action, missing the Asian swing and last playing at the U.S. Open quarterfinals in early September. She also made headlines off the court, parting ways with her long-time coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and debuting a new partnership with Belgian coach Wim Fissette at these WTA Finals.
Krejcikova, ranked 13th, secured her spot in Riyadh due to a new rule allowing a Grand Slam champion with a ranking between 9 and 20 to qualify, prioritizing them over the eighth-ranked player based on the tournament race.
Swiatek faced a considerable challenge immediately, fending off three consecutive break points in her opening service game. Although she saved the first two, she faltered with a long forehand, resulting in an early break for Krejcikova.
Despite a double fault putting her in a precarious 0-40 position, Krejcikova rallied to win five consecutive points, pulling ahead 4-2. Swiatek saved a set point with a well-placed serve but ultimately, Krejcikova held her nerve, serving out the first set in a brisk 47 minutes.
As the second set unfolded, Krejcikova appeared poised for victory after establishing a 3-0 lead with a double-break. However, Swiatek responded with determination, winning four consecutive games to seize the lead for the first time.
A pivotal double fault from Krejcikova handed Swiatek two set points in the 12th game, and she converted the second to push the match into a decisive third set.
This shift in momentum left Krejcikova reeling as Swiatek sprinted to a 5-0 lead. Although Swiatek suffered a break while serving for the match, she quickly rectified her errors, breaking Krejcikova again in the eighth game to clinch the hard-fought win.
Following Sabalenka’s first-round victory over Zheng Qinwen on Saturday, Swiatek now faces the challenge of winning the title along with at least two round-robin matches to secure the year-end No. 1 ranking.
