WTA Finals: Barbora Krejcikova wins Orange Group as Iga Swiatek eliminated

Barbora Krejcikova entered the WTA Finals Riyadh out of form after spending most of the season injured aside from her heroics at Wimbledon and also having never won at the year end tournament.

On Thursday though, she reached the semi-finals sealing a must-win showdown with World No.3, Coco Gauff 7-5, 6-4 to finish top of the Orange Group and advance to the semi-finals. Thus also ending defending champion Iga Swiatek's run. Both the latter and Krejcikova were vying for the last spot with Krejcikova's only path being a win over Gauff.

After Swiatek eased past Kasatkina, Krejcikova's win meant she, Swiatek and Gauff finished with a 2-1 record. But Krejcikova finished 5-2 in sets (71.4%) which saw her finish 5-2. Swiatek finished 4-3 with 57.1% meaning she was last and exits.

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As a result, Krejcikova faces Zheng Qinwen and Gauff will take on the top qualifier in Aryna Sabalenka who will be favourite for the title. The Czech ace dazzled though against Gauff, she kept Gauff on the defensive. She saved four break points in the final game of the opening set to lead 7-5. It was a clutch display as she broke twice from three chances while saving five out of the six break points she faced on her own serve.

Gauff continued to roll through service games but she struggled on break points as Krejcikova grinded and gritted on her serves and took her chances when needed. Serving at 4-4, Gauff hit a fourth double fault to give Krejcikova her first chance to break in the set. It was the only one she needed as she sealed it to lead and served out the win from there.

Swiatek the defending champion is out in a shock defeat and she joins Jessica Pegula out as both finalists from the 2023 edition bow out early.