WTA Finals: Swiatek eases past Gauff to improve to 2-0, keeps year-end No 1 chase alive
The Pole has now won nine of her 10 matches against Gauff, who served for the second set but was undone by her serve
Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff squared off for the 10th time on Wednesday – this time at the WTA Finals in Cancun in the round-robin stage. This marked only the fourth time that two players on the WTA Tour have played 10 or more matches in the current century (the others were Kim Clijsters-Justine Henin, Agnieszka Radwanska-Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki-Dominika Cibulkova).
But for the ninth of those 10 times, it went in the Pole’s favour – with all of her nine wins over Gauff coming in straight sets.
Swiatek, who won her fourth Major at the French Open in June, needed one hour and 29 minutes to beat Gauff 6-0, 7-5, coming from behind in the second set. The American led 4-2 in the second and then served for the set at 5-4 but Gauff was undone by four successive double faults.
This was Swiatek’s tour-leading 65th match win of the season and the Pole is the first player on the tour to win 60+ matches in consecutive years since Caroline Wozniacki did the same in 2010-11. The 22-year-old has also won her last eight matches in a row after winning the Beijing title last month.
Swiatek needs to win the title this week to have a chance to end the season as world No 1
The win improves Swiatek to 2-0 in the group stage at the WTA Finals – the only event on the WTA Tour with a round-robin format prior to the knockout semi-finals and finals.
The Pole looks in prime position to qualify for the semi-finals; she will do so before her third and final group match if Marketa Vondrousova beats Ons Jabeur in the second match of the day or if Jabeur wins in three sets.
Gauff, who defeated Jabeur two days ago, is now 1-1 and will need to beat Vondrousova on Friday to keep her bid for a semi-final spot alive. The American won her first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open in September.
Swiatek’s win also keeps her chase for the year-end world No 1 ranking alive. In the current scenario, the Pole needs to win the title to have a chance to finish 2023 as the top-ranked player. Current world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who lost her second match on Tuesday, needed to reach the final with a 2-1 record in the round-robin stage to lock the top spot. The Belarusian will face off against Elena Rybakina on Thursday.
Current group standings
- Iga Swiatek 2-0
- Coco Gauff 1-1
- Ons Jabeur 0-1
- Marketa Vondrousova 0-1
