The WTA Finals is the year-end tournament featuring the world’s top eight women’s singles players and doubles teams. Because it is an invitation-only event with a limited field, its rules differ from the other tournaments.
There are two groups with four players (or teams) in each. Round-robin play allows players to continue competing throughout the week even if they lose matches. At the end of the round-robin play (three matches), the semifinalists are determined based on the week’s match and set wins and losses.
Swiatek d. Kasatkina 6-1 6-0 in Riyadh
Only Iga’s 3rd match in 2 months
But she was ruthless today from start to finish
Her fate now rests in Gauff & Krejcikova’s hands
✅61st win of 2024
Whether she reaches the SF or not, she can be proud of how she rebounded today
🇵🇱❤️ pic.twitter.com/j3nMGo2Elo
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 7, 2024
World No. 2 and 2023 WTA Finals champion Iga Swiatek learned how different the WTA Finals tournament is from others on Thursday. Swiatek defeated Daria Kasatkina who stepped in for the injured Jessica Pegula in straight sets.
Iga Swiatek Learns Her WTA Finals Match Result Did Not Matter
Swiatek was happy with her level of play and her straight set victory over Kasatkina. She did not realize until the post-match press conference that her eligibility for the semifinals had nothing to do with whether she won or lost to Kasatkina.
Check out her reaction upon learning the news. She genuinely did not know the result did not matter but handled the news well.
Iga Swiatek’s reaction when she found out that her result had no bearing on her chances to qualify for the semi-finals in Riyadh 😂😂#WTAFinals pic.twitter.com/cWWEBFSVVs
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) November 7, 2024
The critical match for Swiatek’s eligibility was the Coco Gauff and Barbora Krejcikova match. Gauff had to beat Krejcikova for Swiatek to get into the semifinals. Gauff lost in straight sets which eliminated Swiatek.
All Was Not Lost
Though Swiatek did not advance to the semifinals, her victory over Kasatkina was not for nothing. She earned $335,000 for the win.
Swiatek is a consummate competitor so she is no doubt disappointed that she did not play well enough in round robin to put herself in a position to defend her 2023 WTA Finals title.
She did not play competitive tennis after the US Open, skipping the fall Asian swing. Swiatek recently hired Naomi Osaka’s former coach Wim Fisette and spent the past few weeks beginning work with him.
Swiatek Ends 2024 as World No. 2
Iga Swiatek ends 2024 as the World No. 2 after spending 125 weeks as World No. 1 since April 2022.
IGA ŚWIĄTEK AS WORLD NO. 1 🌍
04.04.2022 – 10.09.2023 => 75 WEEKS
06.11.2023 – 20.10.2024 => 50 WEEKS125 WEEKS… to be continued 🔜
📸 Jimmie48 Photography | WTA | #czasnatenis pic.twitter.com/sw2vXsBcuv
— Z kortu – informacje tenisowe | Tennis news (@z_kortu) October 21, 2024
She is only 23 years old, an Olympic bronze medalist, and winner of 22 career titles, five of which are Grand Slams.
The future is bright for her despite exiting earlier than she hoped or expected at the 2024 WTA Finals.
