RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Coco Gauff loved a profitable begin by beating Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-2 in an American matchup on the WTA Finals on Sunday.
Second-seeded Iga Swiatek rallied to beat Barbora Krejcikova 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in her first match in two months.
Gauff transformed 5 of her eight break-point alternatives to win her opening match on the year-ending event for the highest eight ranked gamers.
“I believed we each have been enjoying excessive degree,” Gauff mentioned. “I simply suppose I used to be in a position to break by means of on the extra necessary factors.”
Gauff will face Swiatek on Tuesday with the winner taking management of the Orange Group. Pegula will subsequent face Wimbledon champion Krejcikova.
Swiatek, who arrived on the WTA Finals with a brand new coach, hadn’t performed a match since dropping to Pegula in straight units within the U.S. Open quarterfinals in September.
“Regardless that I performed a variety of these (follow) matches, I sort of forgot for some time how it’s to really feel all these issues, a bit completely different stress and feelings,” Swiatek mentioned. “For positive, I wanted a while to adapt. Crucial factor was that although it occurred, I managed to struggle by means of that. And was affected person sufficient to attend to get higher.”
Swiatek rallied from 3-0 down within the second set to show it round towards Krejcikova, who has been hit by accidents and had performed solely 29 matches coming into the finals. Seven of them have been victories at Wimbledon.
On Saturday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka eased to a straight-set victory over Zheng Qinwen within the opening match of the finals in Saudi Arabia. Fourth-seeded Jasmine Paolini of Italy beat fifth-seeded Elena Rybakina within the different Purple Group match.