Wimbledon champion
Barbora Krejcikova in not doing much since her latest Grand Slam win was not expected to be a huge factor in the
WTA Finals configuration but she has stood out continually in Riyadh.
Krejcikova swept aside
Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-3 in just over an hour to end the American’s hopes. It was misery last year in Cancun albeit in the final losing out to Iga Swiatek but this year it is an early and decisive group stage exit with a big tie to come between the Pole and familiar rival Coco Gauff.
Swiatek can win the group today with a win over Gauff so a lot on the line in the next game for the former World No.1 and defending champion. Coming into the tournament, the Czech had lost 5 out of six matches and had been dealing with back issues across the season.
This has derailed upward momentum after winning Wimbledon and having other good results. It is her first win in Riyadh after pushing Swiatek close and of the latter wins, it would setup a showdown with Gauff tomorrow for that second spot.
For Pegula, two and done isn’t what she would’ve had planned but it ends a season where she broke new ground. Reaching a major final for the first time, she achieved a career dream and the peril of being at the end of the season is running out of gas or in the case of Krejcikova finding something that wasn’t there before.