Iga Świątek's drama in the WTA Finals! Aryna Sabalenka is already celebrating. Unfortunately

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Both tennis players started this year's event well, winning their first matches. After a fierce battle, the Raszynian defeated Barbora Krejcikova (4:6, 7:5, 6:2), and the tennis player from the USA won 6:3, 6:2 against Jessica Pegula. Therefore, the stakes of Tuesday's match were very high – advancing to the play-off phase after just two matches played.

And both players were perfectly aware of this from the first balls of the direct clash. Gauff was the first with a score to escape. However, when the score was 1:1, the 20-year-old wasted three break points and after a very long game, in which the situation changed like a kaleidoscope, she was forced to accept the superiority of her opponent.

That's one break… Coco Gauff finally got her way

A moment later, in the Polish woman's next service game, the American again had a chance to break. This time only one, which, like before, she failed to use. Unfortunately, when the score was 3-3, there were no more doubts. Gauff quickly reached 40:15 and this time she achieved her goal on the first break point.

On her serve, the player from the USA did not allow the Raszyn team to make up for the losses and took a 5:3 lead, which she quickly converted into a win in the set thanks to the next break. Therefore, after the 50-minute fight, Gauff was in a much better mood.

Beautiful actions, but also big mistakes. Iga Świątek lost to Coco Gauff

Despite this, the second game did not start as the American expected. The 2023 US Open champion repeatedly made service errors and in the third game, when the score was 1:1, she was surprised. Unfortunately, our tennis player's joy did not last long. In the next set, Gauff made up for the loss, winning Świątek's serve to zero.

The image of the game did not change also in the next games. In both the fifth and sixth, both players had to defend break points – the American had two and the Polish one. These attempts turned out to be effective and the scoreboard was still tied. When our player managed to get the long-awaited break in the seventh game, it seemed that it could be a turning point. Unfortunately, it turned out differently. Just like before, Gauff quickly achieved a return break.

This helped the world's third racket, who finally showed off her skills with her serve and did not give up even a point to the defending champion. And shortly after that, she used the first match ball and closed the entire match, defeating the recent leader of the WTA rankings after an hour and 49 minutes of play.

Thus, Gauff is already certain of advancing to the WTA Finals play-off phase. The American is leading the table in the orange group with two wins and without losing a set. Świątek (sets balance 2:3) and Krejcikova (sets balance 3:2) have one win each, and the promotion issue will be decided between them. Currently, the Pole is higher in the table, having won the direct clash with the Czech.

The matches Świątek – Pegula and Gauff – Krejcikova will take place on Thursday, November 7.