<p><a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/gauff-beats-pegula-swiatek-prevails-in-her-first-match-after-two-months-23423242" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><strong>Coco Gauff</strong></a> posted a rare victory over Iga Swiatek to punch her ticket to the semi-finals of the WTA Finals in Riyadh on Tuesday, ensuring <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/us-open-aryna-sabalenka-beats-emma-navarro-for-second-straight-final-in-new-york-23387762" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><strong>Aryna Sabalenka</strong></a> will finish the year as the World No. 1.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Swiatek, the defending champion, was in a direct battle with Sabalenka for the top spot this week but needed a win over Gauff to keep her chances alive of leapfrogging her Belarusian rival.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Gauff, 20, entered the contest having lost 11 of her 12 previous meetings with Swiatek, with the American&rsquo;s sole victory coming in Cincinnati last year. But she turned the tables on Swiatek on Tuesday, defeating the second seed 6-3, 6-4 to make it two straight-sets wins from two round-robin matches in Riyadh this week.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>&ldquo;It feels great. I knew going into the match that despite our head-to-head I had a lot of confidence going in,&rdquo; said Gauff, who hit 11 double faults during the one-hour 48-minute showdown.&nbsp;</p>
<p>With the exception of the opening game of the match, Gauff had break point opportunities in every Swiatek service game in the first set.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The American third seed made her move in game seven, breaking for 4-3, and she closed out the set with a second break of serve, taking the lead in 49 minutes. Swiatek needed six break points in a marathon third game of the second set to finally take down the Gauff serve but she couldn&rsquo;t consolidate her advantage.&nbsp;</p>
<p>They traded breaks again, as Gauff&rsquo;s double-fault tally went up to double digits and Swiatek racked up the errors. It was Gauff who eventually steadied the ship, and wrapped up the victory on Swiatek&rsquo;s 47th unforced error of the match.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Swiatek admits her two-month break between the US Open and the WTA Finals and the fact she is playing her first tournament with her new coach Wim Fissette have made things &ldquo;a bit more tricky and different than usual.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;But I&rsquo;ll force myself to work even better in the next match,&rdquo; the Pole added.</p>
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Belarus’ Aryna edges out Iga Swiatek to end year at No. 1 after Polish star loses to USA’s Coco Gauff 3-6, 4-6

Sabalenka takes the cake!

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Sabalenka takes the cake!

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