Staring down her hardest rival in a match of the best significance, Iga Swiatek supplied a succinct reminder of her unparalleled brilliance as she dismantled Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 1, to succeed in the final of the WTA Finals for the primary time.
“I’m really, really happy,” Swiatek mentioned after her 6-3, 6-2 win. “I think that was the toughest and also the nicest match that I’ve played here.”
Sabalenka had been a win away from securing the 12 months finish No 1 rating for the primary time in her profession, however together with her victory, Swiatek will finish the 12 months as the most effective participant on the planet for the second straight 12 months, if she clinches the title in Cancún.
In the final, Swiatek will face Jessica Pegula, the fifth seed, who defeated Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-1 on Saturday to succeed in the most important final of her profession. Neither finalist has dropped a set after 4 matches.
Considering they’ve established themselves because the defining gamers this 12 months, this season-ending event would have been incomplete with out Sabalenka and Swiatek laying into one another one final time. Their rivalry has been a wonderful spectacle this season, with Sabalenka defeating Swiatek instantly basic Madrid Open final the final time they met. While Swiatek arrived within the match with a 5-3 lead within the head-to-head, Sabalenka has overwhelmed Swiatek in consecutive WTA Finals, together with in final 12 months’s semi-final.
The pair had been scheduled to satisfy on Saturday however they solely managed to finish three video games earlier than the heavens opened and play was suspended, forcing the final to be postponed to Monday. They returned for the semi-final on Sunday night with Swiatek narrowly main 2-1, 30-30 on serve. After per week of horrendous situations, the wind and rain had pale and the situations allowed each gamers to swing freely.
![Aryna Sabalenka.](https://i0.wp.com/i.guim.co.uk/img/media/36ddf4afc948997ad080f248f32ad63582e54dff/0_0_5050_3367/master/5050.jpg?resize=445%2C296&ssl=1)
Presented with the chance to carry out on her personal phrases as an alternative of merely making an attempt to outlive the weather, Swiatek soared. Her degree and depth was sky excessive from the very second the match restarted, She instantly broke serve by successful the primary two factors of the day.
With the primary break secured and momentum established, Swiatek didn’t let up till the top. She struck the ball so cleanly, consistently forcing Sabalenka into uncomfortable positions on the courtroom, taking management of the baseline and vaporising all brief balls. Swiatek’s immaculate returning, in the meantime, put Sabalenka below fixed strain on her serve.
Whenever Sabalenka managed to wrestle her means on high of the baseline, Swiatek’s immense motion allowed her to consistently elongate rallies and compelled Sabalenka to play one additional shot.
“It hasn’t been easy during the whole week so I’m happy that today I could get even better and for sure it was tough even though it says 6-3, 6-2. Every point was important and every game was tight,” mentioned Swiatek.
After her unimaginable breakout season final 12 months, managing the expectations and strain this season has not at all times been simple. But Swiatek has been extraordinarily constant, she has overwhelmed the easiest and compiled a report this season. On Monday, she’s going to look to shut all of it off with one final triumph.
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