Iga Swiatek Stages Incredible Comeback to Beat Barbora Krejcikova at WTA Finals

Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff launched their WTA Finals campaigns in Riyadh with triumphant starts on Sunday, albeit in notably different styles.

Swiatek, defending her title, executed a remarkable comeback, recovering from a set down and a double-break deficit to defeat eighth seed Barbora Krejcikova 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in a grueling match spanning 2 hours and 33 minutes.

This victory was vital for the Polish second seed as she aims to reclaim the No. 1 ranking currently held by Aryna Sabalenka.

In contrast, Gauff, third in the world rankings, experienced a smoother outing. She dispatched her fellow American and U.S. Open finalist Jessica Pegula with a convincing scoreline of 6-3, 6-2 after just 75 minutes on court.

She’s always a tough opponent, and playing under these conditions can be challenging,” Gauff remarked, noting her triumph over Pegula ended a three-match losing streak against her. “I’m just happy with my performance overall. It was a bit uneven at times, but that’s the nature of tennis. I believe we both played at a high standard, but I managed to come through on the crucial points.”

Earlier, at the King Saud University Indoor Arena, Swiatek found herself in a precarious position. After falling behind 4-6, 0-3, she dug deep to stage a remarkable recovery against Krejcikova.

“It wasn’t easy, that’s for sure,” Swiatek acknowledged, ending the match with 10 aces. “In the beginning, I felt somewhat rusty, but I’m pleased I could find a way to stabilize my game.”