Iga Swiatek recovered from a set and double break down to start her WTA Finals defence with victory over Barbora Krejcikova in her first match in two months.
World No 2 Swiatek had not performed since a quarter-final exit to Jessica Pegula on the US Open in September and that maybe advised as she was damaged within the opening recreation of the primary two units.
The Pole appeared to be heading for defeat as she tumbled 3-0 all the way down to Wimbledon champion Krejcikova within the second set however then received 13 of the following 17 video games to triumph 4-6 7-5 6-2.
Swiatek – who nonetheless has an outdoor probability of regaining the world No 1 rating from Aryna Sabalenka if she wins this event in Riyadh – rushed right into a 5-0 lead within the deciding set.
A visibly fatiguing Krejcikova earned a break again to maintain the match alive however then misplaced serve once more as Swiatek wrapped up victory in a bit of over two and half hours.
Swiatek: I felt rusty at first
Swiatek – who demolished Pegula 6-1 6-0 in final 12 months’s ultimate in Cancun – stated of her comeback win over Krejcikova: “For positive it wasn’t simple.
“At the start I felt a bit rusty however I am pleased that I discovered a approach to play a bit of bit extra stable as a result of at first I did not really feel nice.
“I just tried to do my usual stuff, control the ball a bit more because it was flying from my racket. I knew I had that game in me. I just needed to find it.”
Swiatek was enjoying her first match below new coach Wim Fissette after splitting with Tomasz Wiktorowski earlier this month.
The 23-year-old had alternatives to interrupt Krejcikova within the opening set, discovering herself 0-30 up within the fourth recreation and 0-40 to the great within the sixth, however squandered these positions.
5-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek got here by way of ultimately, although, to hitch Coco Gauff in getting her Orange Group marketing campaign off to a successful begin.
Gauff sees off error-strewn Pegula
Gauff defeated fellow American and occasional doubles companion Pegula 6-3 6-2, securing solely a second win over her compatriot in six conferences and first on a tough courtroom together with her sole victory beforehand approaching the grass at Eastbourne in 2023.
Pegula – overwhelmed by Sabalenka within the US Open ultimate this 12 months – put in an inconsistent show in opposition to Gauff, with a scorching winner typically adopted by a collection of errors.
The world No 6 hurled her racket to the ground in frustration within the fourth recreation of the second set and that appeared to remodel her fortunes as she broke from 0-40 down.
However Pegula then made 4 blunders in a row from 40-15 up within the following recreation as Gauff broke again instantly for a 3-2 lead.
Gauff went on to take the following three video games in addition to Pegula’s inconsistency continued, closing out the match with an outstanding forehand on the run.
The 2023 US Open champion stated of her win: “I am happy with how I played. Sometimes it was sloppy, sometimes it was great, but that’s tennis.
“We each performed excessive degree. I feel I used to be simply capable of break by way of on a few of these extra necessary factors.”
Monday on the WTA Finals, reside on Sky Sports activities
The gamers within the Purple Group are again in motion on Monday.
Elena Rybakina and Qinwen Zheng, each nonetheless searching for their first victory at this 12 months’s event, meet from roughly 12.30pm.
It’s then the battle of the opening-day winners as Sabalenka and Jasmine Paolini lock horns from round 3pm.
Watch tennis reside on Sky Sports activities or stream with NOW.
