WTA Finals Day 4 Preview & Schedule: Swiatek and Gauff face off for semifinal spot, Pegula and Krejcikova clash in a decisive match

The fourth day of the WTA Finals begins with a stellar showdown between Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, both vying for a spot in the semifinals. Both players won their opening matches in the Orange Group, giving them a chance to secure their places alongside Aryna Sabalenka in the top four.

On the other hand, Jessica Pegula and Barbora Krejcikova face off in a must-win match, as a loss will nearly eliminate one of them from contention after both suffered defeats in their opening games.

Jessica Pegula enters this match after a loss to her compatriot Coco Gauff, who avenged last year's semifinals by defeating her 3-6, 2-6 in a match filled with errors—28 from Pegula and 30 from Gauff. However, the 20-year-old won with greater aggression, thanks to her 16 winners compared to Pegula's 8, and better serving efficiency.

Pegula, the World No. 6, is defending her runner-up finish from last year and must win to have a chance of advancing to the semifinals for a second consecutive year. The 30-year-old faces the 2024 Wimbledon champion, Barbora Krejcikova, who also needs a victory to stay in the competition.

Aside from her outstanding run at the All England Club, Krejcikova has only managed nine wins this season and is the only player outside the top 10 in the tournament, ranked No. 13. The Czech put up a fight against World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in her opening match but saw Swiatek rally from a set down and a 0-3 deficit in the second to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Krejcikova struggled with her second serve, facing significant challenges on serve against Swiatek, who broke her six times out of 17 opportunities. Pegula, with a stronger record on hard courts, will be the favorite, though former World No. 2 Krejcikova leads their head-to-head 2-1, including a victory en route to her title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, which was also played on indoor hard courts.

Iga Swiatek will seek to clinch her semifinal berth as she keeps her hopes alive for a return to World No. 1. Although Sabalenka has the upper hand, the Pole still has a chance if she wins the tournament undefeated and Sabalenka loses her next two matches.

Nonetheless, the 5-time Grand Slam champion has stated that her primary goal is to improve her form and prepare for the upcoming season. Swiatek overcame a challenging start against Krejcikova, turning the match around to secure her first win since early September, when she defeated Liudmila Samsonova in the US Open Round of 16.

Swiatek faces World No. 3 Coco Gauff, a matchup that has heavily favored her so far, with an 11-1 head-to-head record. The American No. 1 recently defeated Pegula in an error-laden performance, which could prove costly against Swiatek, one of the most consistent players on tour.

The winner will be nearly assured of a semifinal spot, depending on the outcome of the Pegula-Krejcikova match. This could be a prime opportunity for Gauff to start reversing Swiatek’s dominance, especially given that the Pole hasn’t looked at her best, while Gauff has had a strong end to the season, highlighted by her second WTA 1000 title at the China Open during the Asian swing.