On the second day of the 2024 WTA Finals round-robin competition, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff were victorious in their matches. Both Swiatek and Gauff are playing with new coaches after playing disappointing seasons by their high standards.
Swiatek is the defending WTA Finals champion but recently relinquished her World No. 1 ranking to Aryna Sabalenka. She comes into this event having not played competitive tennis since the US Open.
Gauff is also looking to improve her results next year. Inconsistent play this year prompted her to dismiss Brad Gilbert, one of the coaches who helped her win the 2023 US Open.
Coco Gauff is up to something with her new coach, Matt Daly!#TunedIntoTennis pic.twitter.com/LEVcoL4RKG
— Myles David (@TunedIntoTennis) September 26, 2024
Iga Swiatek defeated Barbora Krejcikova
Swiatek and Krejcikova had a 2-2 head-to-head record before the WTA Finals match. Krejcikova won their last two meetings and seemed ready to capture her third straight win. She broke Swiatek in the first game of the match and held on to win the first set.
Krejcikova was up 3-0 in the second set as Swiatek found her game. She evened the set and eventually won it 7-5. The third set was all Iga.
Barbora Krejcikova capitalises on a slow start from Iga Swiatek, striking the ball with growing authority as she takes the opener 6-4 in Riyadh.
Work to do for the Polish defending champion in her first match with new coach Wim Fissette in her corner.#WTAFinals #IgaSwiatek pic.twitter.com/D1YzK5zt62
— LoveGameTennis 🎾 (@LoveGame_Tennis) November 3, 2024
Swiatek’s long layoff contributed to her shaky first-set play. With new coach Wim Fissette, many believe she will work on her forehand which created many errors in the first set.
Never backing down 💪@iga_swiatek gets the comeback dub over Krejcikova!#WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/qbQykbcwPe
— wta (@WTA) November 3, 2024
The final score was 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Coco Gauff defeated Jessica Pegula
Coco Gauff made quick work of her American compatriot and former doubles partner Jessica Pegula today. She used her speed and the fast courts to her advantage keeping Pegula on her heels. Pegula was visibly frustrated as her return game was not as solid as usual. The final score was 6-3, 6-2.
Eyeing the 👑 like … 👀
Coco Gauff earns her first victory in Riyadh! #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/iquDnKmayc
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) November 3, 2024
Going into the match, Pegula had a 4-1 head-to-head record over Gauff including a straight sets win last year at the 2023 WTA Finals in Cancun.
Swiatek and Gauff join Aryna Sabalenka and Jasmine Paolini as victors in round-robin WTA Finals matches.
