Coco Gauff secured a WTA Finals semi-final spot with a rare victory over Iga Swiatek, marking a crucial win in Riyadh and joining Aryna Sabalenka in the last four. x.com (@DestinoDeportiv)
Coco Gauff has clinched her place in the semi-finals of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a decisive and rare victory over defending champion Iga Swiatek. The American tennis star triumphed over the tournament’s second seed with a 6-3, 6-4 win, securing her spot alongside world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the last four. This victory marks only the second time in 13 meetings that Gauff has managed to defeat Swiatek, signalling a breakthrough for the 20-year-old against the Polish player.
Gauff reflected on her performance, noting the confidence she brought to the court despite her previous struggles in their head-to-head record. “It feels great,” she shared. “I knew going into the match, despite our head-to-head, I had a lot of confidence, and I felt like I was playing great tennis,” Gauff added that even in moments of inconsistent play, she felt in control. “Even when I was playing a bit sloppy, the games I lost were still going to deuce. That gave me confidence, and I knew if I stayed solid, I could close out the match.”
The result has significant implications for the year-end rankings as well. With Swiatek’s defeat, Sabalenka is now confirmed to finish the season as the year-end world number one, a feat that Swiatek could have contested but can no longer achieve following her loss to Gauff.
Meanwhile, American Jessica Pegula was eliminated from the competition following her 6-3, 6-3 loss to Barbora Krejcikova. She joins Elena Rybakina, who exited the tournament on Monday. Pegula’s defeat underscores a challenging game for the U.S. No. 1, leaving Gauff as the sole American in the season’s final event.
As the tournament progresses, Swiatek will face Pegula in her final Orange Group match on Thursday, needing a win to advance to the semi-finals. Gauff, seeded third, will look to top her group with a victory over Krejcikova. Both matches will determine the final standings as the WTA Finals approach the knockout rounds, promising a thrilling conclusion to the season.
