The 2024 WTA Finals saved the most drama for the last match of round-robin play. Coco Gauff came into the day 2-0, and Barbora Krejcikova was 1-1.
Gauff was assured a semifinal position but wanted to finish the round-robin session as the only undefeated player. Meanwhile, Krejcikova was playing for a spot in the semifinals.
Krejcikova overcame some serving woes and nerves during a tight match.
Krejcikova d. Coco Gauff 7-5 6-4 in Riyadh
Barbora wins the Orange Group.
What a turn of events.
You have to give her so much credit.
She has a knack for playing her best tennis in some of the most important events.
✅1st WTA Finals SF
✅4th top 10 win of 2024🇨🇿❤️ pic.twitter.com/Sgqw37kzxi
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 7, 2024
With her 7-5, 6-4 straight-set win over Gauff, Krejcikova earned a semifinal spot and won the group, edging Gauff out of the top spot because of their set records.
Defending champion Iga Swiatek is eliminated from the event. The French Open champion and Paris Olympics bronze medalist lost her World No. 1 ranking to Aryna Sabalenka and has periodically struggled in 2024.
WTA Finals: The Final Four
Eight players are now trimmed to four with Aryna Sabalenka, Qinwen Zheng, Barbora Krejcikova, and Coco Gauff holding those positions.
Regardless of the outcome, there will be a maiden singles champion. Krejcikova with former partner Katerina Siniakova won the WTA doubles title in 2021.
WTA Finals: The Favorite
Despite losing to Elena Rybakina on Wednesday, Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning World No. 1 player, has to be considered the favorite, winning both hardcourt Grand Slam tournaments, the Australian and US Open, in 2024.
Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng has quietly played well in Riyadh, in her first-ever WTA Finals. Her strong fanbase at Riyadh cheers her on at every match.
Due to injury, Krejcikova has not played much tennis since winning Wimbledon in July. She has steadily improved with each match.
Gauff has played well including a big win over Iga Swiatek on Tuesday raising their career head-to-head record to 2-11 against the Polish player.
WTA Finals Semifinal Matchups
Coco Gauff will face Aryna Sabalenka and Barbora Krejcikova will play Qinwen Zheng in the semifinals.
Gauff and Sabalenka have faced each other eight times with a 4-4 head-to-head record. Sabalenka won their match at the Wuhan Open last month, and the pair split the other two recent meetings at Grand Slam finals: the 2023 US Open which Gauff won and the 2024 Australian Open which Sabalenka won.
Krejcikova and Zheng have played one time, in 2023 on the Asian harcourt swing of the WTA Tour. Zheng came from a set down to win the match.
