Gauff beats Swiatek at the WTA Finals, while Sabalenka becomes No. 1 at the end of the year

With the exception of the opening game of the match, Gauff had break point opportunities in every Swiatek service game in the first set.

The American third seed made her move in game seven, breaking for 4-3, and she closed the set with a second break of service to take the lead after 49 minutes.

Swiatek needed six break points in a marathon third game of the second set to finally beat Gauff’s serve, but she was unable to consolidate her lead.

They traded breaks again as Gauff’s double-fault count rose to double figures and Swiatek made the mistakes.

It was Gauff who finally steadied the ship and sealed the victory after Swiatek’s 47th unforced error of the match.

Krejcikova eliminates Pegula

Earlier in the day, Barbora Krejcikova ended Jessica Pegula’s chances of qualifying for the semi-finals by beating the sixth-seeded American 6-3, 6-3.

Pegula finished second at the 2023 WTA Finals, suffering her second straight sets defeat of the week. She enters her final round-robin match against Swiatek on November 7 and anchors the Oranjegroep with zero sets won.