Iga Swiatek in the first round of Wimbledon 2023, UK
Iga Swiatek in the first round of Wimbledon 2023, UK | (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Tennis | WTA Finals 2024 | Iga Swiatek aims to continue winning record against Coco Gauff

By Siring Adol Caur

  • Iga Świątek [2] v Coco Gauff [3]
  • Jessica Pegula [6] v Barbora Krejčíková [13]
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff meet for a record 13th time in a bid to see which player can top the orange group at the WTA Finals with Jessica Pegula and Barbora Krejcikova also in action.

 

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Iga Świątek [2] v Coco Gauff [3] H2H & Match Fundamentals

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Iga Świątek [2] v Coco Gauff [3]     H2H: Świątek leads 11-1   
WTA Finals 2024 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Indoor Hard Prize Money: $350,000
Third on Center Court (Not before 15:00 GMT) Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required

The second match of day one will see the world number two and three face each other. The American, Coco Gauff has some serious deal to crack as she would face an opponent, she has won only a set and a match against. The two have faced each other 7 times previously on hard surface, with Gauff trailing the head-to-head at 1-6. The rest of the meetings have been held on clay from the first time they met in 2021.

The two played in the same group last year at Cancun, where Iga Świątek bageled the American in a set, and likewise the year prior in Riyadh, where the Polish number one dominated her easily; and has only dropped a set against her in the only match that she has lost to her.

The second edition of the hard season has been moderate for Świątek, as she managed to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open, and the semi-finals at Cincinnati. Skipping the Asian swing, she has been back in action after she played at New York at Riyadh, and played a strong, yet varied game against Krejčíková. She is at number 2 in the Orange group as she had dropped a set against the Czech and Gauff won in straight sets. The year has been rewarding for Świątek as she won her fifth grand slam at Roland Garros and a bronze medal later at the Olympics.

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While Gauff was knocked out early in the semi-finals in the first two grand slams of the year, and fourth round in the next two; she also lost her match in the Olympics to the eventual silver medallist, Donna Vekic. With her recent victory at China Open, she has been back in the groove for the hard season.

There is no stopping of the versatile and powerful game of 23-year-old Świątek, against the 20-year-old Gauff. The constructive game from the Pole with focus on offence, can thrash the American again. With a strong and consistent game, Gauff has improved her volleying skills and agility, can throw in some extended rallies and winners.

The high-pressure game for Świątek will make her cover the entire court, as she will want to win this game to get to the top of the table. Gauff will try to break the losing cycle as she can try to climb up on the numbers against the world number two.

Prediction: Świątek in three sets.

 

 

Jessica Pegula [6] v Barbora Krejčíková [13] H2H & Match Fundamentals

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Jessica Pegula [6] v Barbora Krejčíková [13] H2H: 1-1 
WTA Finals 2024 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Indoor Hard Prize Money: $350,000
Second on Center Court (Not before 12:30 GMT) Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required

Day four of the WTA Finals begins with the orange group having their second day of action, starting from the players of bottom half facing each other. The American number two will take on the Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejčíková for the first-time this season.

Krejčíková has won the last meeting, at Dubai where she bageled Pegula in the decider, taking the first set, 6-1. The determined Krejčíková lost her first match against Świątek after putting up a fight and pushing the match to a decider. She made Świątek drop her first set since Cincinnati Masters. The world number two, having committed more unforced errors than the Czech won the match, having served ten aces to three by her counterpart. The agility shown by Krejčíková was anew on the hard courts as she has struggled the whole season for it, but succumbed under pressure in the third set.

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The American number 2, Jessica Pegula has had a varied game as compared to her performance in the second innings of the hard season. Being broken five times on her serve, costed her the match against the athletic Gauff, who dropped two games against her and converted break points at times when needed. The aggressive play by Gauff put away Pegula’s first serve and increased unforced errors.

Pegula can play her versatile game, while trying to dictate the rallies from the start, landing the perfect forehands. Her agility allows her to play varied shots and a faster game. On the other hand, Krejčíková, with her all-court game, and the hard-hitting backhand would hit the balls hard and fast leaving no room for extended time between the points. Her net game will be advantage as Pegula will try to elongate the rallies. The world number 13 played a swift game against the world number two and is surprisingly someone to look out for.

Prediction: Pegula in three sets.

 

 

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