Iga Swiatek has admitted that facing Jessica Pegula in the final "will be the toughest" match so far at the 2023 WTA Finals in Cancun.
World No. 2 Swiatek has looked to be very much on form throughout her run at the 2023 WTA Finals, having won each of her matches in straight sets. She defeated Marketa Vondrousova, Coco Gauff, and Ons Jabeur in the Group Stage before ousting top seed and World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-final 6-3, 6-2.
She will now face World No. 5 Pegula in the final and there is a lot at stake, as a win would allow Swiatek to overtake Sabalenka in the WTA Ranking and re-claim World No. 1, a position that she previously held for 75 weeks until September of this year.
However, the Polish player has admitted that the battle for the prestigious season-ending championship title will not be easy, and in fact it is likely to be tougher than any of her clashes in Cancun so far due to her opponent's level.
"It’s still a long way [to win the title], tomorrow’s match will be the toughest one," she said after her win against Sabalenka.
Pegula has also made it through the tournament without having dropped a set, defeating Elena Rybakina, Sabalenka, and Maria Sakkari in her Group Stage before emerging victorious against Gauff 6-2, 6-1. The American player has also spoken of her confidence throughout the event, suggesting that her mentality is in the right place. Swiatek commented on this, saying:
"She’s just a solid player. Even though it doesn’t seem like she’s got extraordinary shots, she’s really good at everything she plays. She’s really mature…all the different things. I’ll focus on myself. I know what I can do here. I’ll be ready.
"She really showed that she can play in any conditions…for now I’m really focused on just continuing on what I have been doing for the past days. I managed to do that tonight," she said.
However, the 22-year-old may have the advantage in terms of experience. While Pegula admitted that the final will be the "biggest" of her career, four-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek did not view it in quite the same way.
"Not the biggest final, but one of the biggest finals," she said, "I’m just achieving my goals and my dreams…I just try to be grateful for that."
Iga Swiatek will have Year-End #1 on the line when she takes on Jessica Pegula in the WTA Finals Cancun Final This was a one sided rivalry before 2023, but this year, Pegula has turned that around. She's turned a lot around this year, has really joined the elite.
