Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates after defeating Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka throughout their ladies’s singles semifinal tennis match on the WTA Finals Championship in Cancun, Mexico on November 5, 2023. (Picture by CLAUDIO CRUZ / AFP)
Second-ranked Iga Swiatek defeated world primary Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday to achieve the title match of the WTA Finals, the place she is going to face fellow unbeaten Jessica Pegula.
By downing the reigning Australian Open champion, Swiatek denied Sabalenka a victory that might have clinched the year-end prime rating for the 25-year-old from Belarus.
As a substitute, reigning French Open champion Swiatek of Poland can declare the year-end world primary spot for the second consecutive season by defeating American Pegula in Monday’s championship match.
“I really feel prefer it’s nonetheless a good distance away as a result of I really feel like tomorrow’s match would be the hardest one,” Swiatek stated. “We are able to speak about it tomorrow after the match. I’m simply going to proceed doing what I’ve been doing.”
Sabalenka overtook Swiatek for the highest rating two months in the past however would maintain it provided that Pegula wins.
Pegula beat compatriot Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-1 in an hour on Saturday to achieve the WTA Finals championship match, stretching her general win streak to 9 matches.
Swiatek owns a 5-3 profession edge over Pegula of their rivalry however the American has gained two of their three conferences this yr, on the United Cup and in an August semi-final on Montreal hardcourts. Swiatek beat Pegula on this yr’s Doha closing.
“I can’t actually inform you the keys for tomorrow,” Swiatek stated. “I’m going to work on that.”
The ultimate was delayed to Monday as a result of rain that performed havoc with the week’s schedule on the outside hardcourts in Cancun, Mexico — together with stopping Swiatek and Sabalenka solely three video games into their semi-final on Saturday evening.
Swiatek was forward 2-1 on serve when play resumed Sunday and the Pole went on the seize the one break of the opening set.
Swiatek broke early within the second set and broke once more for 5-2 with an overhead smash, then held serve to win on her first match level on a service winner.
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Sabalenka had crushed Swiatek in final yr’s WTA Finals semi-finals they usually had cut up two prior conferences this yr, each on clay.