In her first game after a break from tennis and a change of coach, Iga Swiatek made a successful start at the WTA Finals.
The defending champion was able to prevent an opening defeat in Riyadh with a show of strength. The Pole won her first of three group games 4:6, 7:5, 6:2 against Barbora Krejcikova from the Czech Republic on Sunday (November 3rd, 2024) and can therefore continue to hope for a return to the top of the tennis world rankings.
Her rival Aryna Sabalenka, current number one, mastered her first hurdle confidently on Saturday, winning against Chinese Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen 6:3, 6:4.
Swiatek comeback after a “rusty” start
Swiatek now found it more difficult: she lost the first set, lost two service games in the second and was 0:3 behind. After separating from her coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and taking a break from competition, she didn’t seem to be back on top yet – but then found her way back into the game. “It wasn’t easy, at first I felt a bit rusty”senior 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 viewed event in Saudi Arabia is all about the duel between the two dominators of recent years. Swiatek and Belarusian Sabalenka can still secure the top position in the WTA world rankings at the end of the year.
Sabalenka has an advantage over Swiatek
Sabalenka, who triumphed at the Australian Open and the US Open this year, has a better starting position; she went into 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 from Sabalenka before the possible final in order to end the season at the top.
The eight best singles players and doubles teams of the tennis year will play to find their winners until November 9th. Unlike other WTA tournaments, a four-way group stage is played at the start of the event. The two best players in the two groups advance to the semi-finals. In the second game on Sunday, Coco Gauff won the US duel against Jessica Pegula 6:3, 6:2.
