Jessica Pegula withdraws from WTA Finals with injury as alternate Daria Kasatkina in for Swiatek tie

WTA
Wednesday, 06 November 2024 at 22:10
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The alternates have been used after all at the WTA Finals with Daria Kasatkina who was the top player who was in Riyadh on standby getting a last gasp chance after Jessica Pegula withdrew on Wednesday.
Pegula who lost to Barbora Krejcikova to end her chances on Tuesday has cited a left knee injury as the reason behind her exit. But Kasatkina who would've got $225,000 for merely sitting there not playing no matter what will get a chance to earn even more.
Kasatkina finished just outside of the spots and with Emma Navarro deciding against taking her spot as an alternate, the Russian who recently added Ningbo to her collection will get at least $335,000 for playing.
She could then add a further $350,000 for a Round Robin win against Iga Swiatek who she will face tomorrow. So not bad for one match and given it is one that was a dead rubber for Pegula, it gives Kasatkina a win-win scenario. It is an unfortunate end to the season for Pegula.
The US Open finalist came into this tournament qualifying despite missing part of the season due to injury and has ended the season seemingly injured. She is out in the group stage in a miserable return after reaching the final last year.
Albeit of course reaching that championship match at Flushing Meadows is very much the icing on the cake earlier in the year after failing previously to even get past a Quarter-Final. She also won't play Billie Jean King Cup Finals deciding against it prior to heading to Riyadh and so will likely play again in early 2025.
Kasatkina would've thought her season was over. But in fact, she will have to get ready for one more match before likely heading off on holiday and starting the off-season. Either way it will make for good content on her What The Vlog YouTube channel.

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