World No. 2 Iga Swiatek beat Russian Daria Kasatkina (WTA 9) 6-1 6-0 for her final group match at the WTA Masters in Riyadh. The Pole is not yet in the last four.
Iga Swiatek’s qualification for the semi-finals depends on the result of the second singles of the day, which will pit the American Coco Gauff (WTA 3), already assured of continuing the competition, against Barbora Krejcikova (WTA 13). A victory for the Czech would eliminate Swiatek, the title holder.
The first of the Orange group, which brings together Gauff, Swiatek, Krejcikova and Kasatkina, will face the Chinese Qinwen Zheng (WTA 7), 2nd in the Violet group, in the semi-final. The second in the Orange group will challenge world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who came out at the top of the Violet group.
Facing Kasatkina, whom she had beaten in their last five confrontations, Swiatek did not go into detail, breaking the Russian on her second opportunity (2-0) and already leading 4-0 after a quarter of hour. The match ended in just 51 minutes. Kasatkina replaced at the last minute the American Jessica Pegula, injured in the left knee according to the organizers.
ats/adav
Swiss