The year-end No. 1 ranking all comes down to this for Iga Swiatek.
If Swiatek wins Monday’s WTA Finals title match against Jessica Pegula, the Pole will finish the season as the top-ranked player in the world. If Pegula prevails, Swiatek will remain No. 2 behind Aryna Sabalenka.
Swiatek kept her No. 1 hopes alive with Sunday’s 6-3, 6-3 victory over none other than Sabalenka. The 22-year-old is undefeated in Cancun, having rolled through round-robin competition with defeats of Marketa Vondrousova, Coco Gauff, and Ons Jabeur. Swiatek has not even dropped a single set.
Pegula, though, is similarly on fire. The American has not lost a set and he hasn’t even been pushed to a tiebreaker. She erased Elena Rybakina, Sabalenka, and Maria Sakkari in the group stage before crushing Gauff 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals on Saturday.
Although Pegula enjoyed an extra day of rest since the Swiatek-Sabalenka semifinal was pushed back due to rain, that can’t be considered to be a major factor. Swiatek did not have to use much energy in what was in incredibly dominant performance against the Belarusian. The world No. 2 looks extremely motivated to finish what has been a successful year with a bang. She probably won’t be No. 2 much longer.
Pick: Swiatek in 2
who ya got?
I think Iga will win as well. Hoping Jess can make it competitive at least..