Swiatek and Krejcikova vie for WTA Finals semifinal spot

On Thursday at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Barbora Krejcikova and Iga Swiatek will compete for the second semifinal position—but they will not be playing against each other. Coco Gauff has already guaranteed her place in the semifinals following an impressive victory over Swiatek. In contrast, her compatriot Jessica Pegula has been eliminated. Nonetheless, both Gauff and Pegula will still play a crucial role in deciding who progresses.

Among the five potential outcomes, only one scenario secures Swiatek's advancement to the semifinals—and this is the scenario that is most likely, according to the seedings. Swiatek needs to first secure a victory over Pegula, while also relying on Gauff to defeat Krejcikova. If Krejcikova secures a win in her match, she will progress to the semifinals. There is even a possibility for Krejcikova to advance with a 1-2 record, as long as both Gauff and Pegula achieve victory in their respective matches.

Swiatek has experienced a challenging few months. Following her quarterfinal defeat to Pegula at the US Open, she opted to change coaches and skipped the Asian swing. In Riyadh, she staged an incredible recovery from a set and two breaks down to defeat Krejcikova. However, her straight-set defeat to Gauff highlighted that she was not mentally prepared and lacked match fitness. Swiatek recognized this herself, stating, “I had to keep my head in check and control it the entire time. I hadn’t faced tight situations like that in two months, so I somewhat forgot what it takes.”

Swiatek's comments remind us that success in tennis is not handed out freely. Consistency and hard work are vital, particularly when the momentum can change at any moment.