Defending champion Iga Swiatek’s WTA Finals journey came to a sudden end on Thursday as Barbora Krejcikova edged out Coco Gauff, 7-5, 6-4, in a thrilling showdown.
The result meant that Iga Swiatek, currently ranked second in the world, fell short of reaching the semi-finals, marking a surprising exit for the Polish star.
Gauff had already secured her spot in the semis, but Swiatek’s hopes depended on the American overcoming eighth-seeded Krejcikova. The Czech, ranked 13th, showed nerves of steel, taking the first set in 54 minutes with a decisive backhand winner after saving four critical break points.
The match challenged both players as Krejcikova, this year’s Wimbledon champion, held her ground to claim victory in just over an hour and 40 minutes. Gauff, who had sailed through her previous matches without dropping a set, struggled with unforced errors, committing 23 in the first set alone, ultimately giving Krejcikova the upper hand.
“This victory is incredibly important to me,” said the 27-year-old Krejcikova, who becomes the lowest-ranked player to reach the WTA Finals semis since 2001. “It was a tough battle, and I’m really proud of how I managed my game. The Wimbledon title was huge, but reaching this stage here feels almost as special.” Krejcikova will face China’s Olympic champion, Zheng Qinwen, in the next round, while Gauff takes on world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a highly anticipated clash.
Earlier, Iga Swiatek delivered a commanding performance against Daria Kasatkina, dismantling the Russian 6-1, 6-0 in just 51 minutes – the quickest match at the WTA Finals in eight years. Swiatek’s aggressive play saw her win 72% of her points on serve and fire 15 winners, bolstering her head-to-head record against Kasatkina to 6-1.
Iga Swiatek’s powerful showing brought her tally of 6-0 set wins at the WTA Finals to five, equalling Serena Williams’ total and inching closer to legends like Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, and Steffi Graf. Yet despite this, her title defense ended abruptly, leaving fans eagerly awaiting her next steps.
With Iga Swiatek out, the semi-final matchups offer a new level of excitement for fans.
