POLAND’S Iga Swiatek knocked out rival Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinal of the season-ending WTA Finals in Cancun on Sunday, putting the world No. 1 ranking within her reach ahead of Monday’s title match.
The win by the cool and collected Swiatek sets up a final showdown with American Jessica Pegula, and she can end the year on top if she is able to hoist the trophy.
The current No. 1 Sabalenka ended Swiatek’s WTA Finals campaign in the penultimate stage a year ago but lacked her usual lethal power in Cancun, as a flurry of forehand errors undermined her best efforts.
The match began on Saturday, but officials were forced to suspend the affair with the Pole up 2-1 in the first set due to inclement weather.
The four-time major winner Swiatek wrested the momentum immediately when play resumed on Sunday, and broke Sabalenka’s serve in the fourth game.
Sabalenka was unable to set up a single break point in the second set, and she whacked her racquet in frustration after she sent a shot beyond the baseline to hand her opponent the break in the third game.
Swiatek kept her composure, committing a few errors as she converted another break point with a mighty overhead smash in the seventh game.
The 22-year-old pumped her fists and cheered wildly as the Australian Open champion Sabalenka sent one into the net on match point.
The win kept alive a hot streak for Swiatek, who won the China Open last month.
“Thank you, guys, for coming. Thank you for cheering. I really appreciate it. You give us energy to play from December to November. I’m really grateful. See you tomorrow,” Swiatek told the crowd after the match.
She faces a tough challenge against an in-form Pegula, who shredded the US Open champion Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-1 to reach the title match on Saturday.
“Jessie (Pegula) is a great player, and she fully deserves to be in the final of any tournament,” Swiatek said. “I know it’s not going to be easy.