Coco Gauff too much for lethargic Iga Swiatek at the WTA Finals

Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek have both had odd ends to their 2024 seasons. Gauff struggled through most of the summer and did not make a quarterfinal appearance until the fall. Swiatek changed coaches and took time off while losing a large number of points by skipping the Wuhan Open and the China Open. Still, both had done enough during the year to get into the WTA Finals.

At last year's Finals, Swiatek had entered the event at No. 2, having lost her top ranking in the weeks before the tournament. She seemed extra motivated to regain No. 1, even dressing in red in the ceremony before the event while everyone else dressed in white. Swiatek wanted to prove in every way she was different from the other players.

She then swept through the tournament, dropping just one game in the final, and ended the year at No. 1. This year is different, however. Sabalenka is No. 1 again and playing well. Meanwhile, Swiatek has already lost a match and will need to win her next one at the WTA Finals (if Barbora Krejcikova also wins her next match) to get into the semifinals.

Coco Gauff dispatches Iga Swiatek in straight sets at the WTA Finals

Swiatek's loss came against Gauff on Tuesday. The American's serve has been gravely inconsistent this year, but she started strong against the Pole. Gauff took the first set 6-3. Things did not go as well at the beginning of the second set, though. She was broken early by Swiatek. Fortunately for Gauff, she was able to get the break back to even the set at 2.

The shock with Gauff is that she can sometimes stay in matches even though her serve can be a complete mess. She shouldn't - no player should - have the issues she has. The American once again had double-digit double faults. There is no excuse for that. Even a slower second serve that lands in would require her opponent to do something. Instead, she gives out a lot of free points.

The rest of her game, especially her ability to move around the court, is too much for most other players, including Swiatek as the American won 6-3 6-4. With the loss, Swiatek hands the year-end ranking to Sabalenka. In other words, the Pole suffered a double loss on Tuesday.

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