Tennis fans, brace yourselves! 🎾
In a stunning turn of events at the WTA Finals, defending champion Iga Swiatek has been knocked out after Barbora Krejcikova defeated Coco Gauff 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday.
Gauff, already assured a spot in the semifinals, couldn't help Swiatek's hopes as the Czech dynamo Krejcikova needed this win to advance herself. The 13th-ranked Krejcikova clinched a tightly contested first set, saving four break points and sealing it with a sizzling down-the-line backhand. 🔥
The usually steady Gauff, who hadn't dropped a set all tournament, was uncharacteristically plagued by unforced errors—23 in the first set alone! 😱
The second set mirrored the intensity of the first, but Krejcikova held her nerve, wrapping up the match in just over an hour and a half.
\"This is a big win for me, and I'm really happy with how I played,\" the 27-year-old Krejcikova beamed. \"Reaching the semifinals here is something unimaginable. I'm really proud and looking forward to new challenges.\" 🌟
Fun fact: Krejcikova is the lowest-ranked player to reach the WTA Finals semis since 2001! 🎉
What's next? Gauff is set for a blockbuster semifinal against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, while Krejcikova will face China's Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen. Mark your calendars, this is tennis at its finest! 🗓️
Earlier, Swiatek delivered a masterclass by dismantling Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-0 in just 51 minutes—the fastest match at the WTA Finals in eight years! 🚀 Despite her dominant performance, it wasn't enough to keep her in the tournament.
Swiatek's exit is a reminder of how unpredictable and thrilling tennis can be. Stay tuned for more action-packed matches! 🎾🌍
Reference(s):
Swiatek knocked out of WTA Finals after Krejcikova beats Gauff
cgtn.com
