World number one Swiatek sure of WTA Finals berth

By Sports Desk August 08, 2024

Iga Swiatek is sure of her place at the WTA Finals after it was announced the world number one had qualified for season's grand finale.

The season-ending tournament will take place in the Saudi Arabian city of Riyadh for the first time, and will be held in November.

Swiatek, who won bronze at the Paris Olympics last week, has become the first player to secure her place at the Finals.

The 23-year-old has scooped five titles in 2024, including the French Open, which she has won four times.

“It's a great feeling to qualify for the WTA Finals for the fourth year in a row," said Swiatek, the reigning WTA Finals champion.

"I hope that the performances of the eight best players of the season will give a lot of joy to the fans all over the world."

Swiatek will become the youngest player to appear at the WTA Finals for four consecutive years since Victoria Azarenka (2009-2012).

After been knocked out early on in 2021, Swiatek reached the semi-finals in Fort Worth in 2022 before triumphing in Cancun last year.

Related items

  • Raducanu roars through to Korea Open quarter-finals Raducanu roars through to Korea Open quarter-finals

    Emma Raducanu booked her place in the Korea Open quarter-finals with a straight-sets victory over Yue Yuan.

    The former US Open champion wrapped up a 6-4 6-3 win in just over two hours in Seoul, where she will play either top seed Daria Kasatkina or Hailey Baptiste.

    Yue, who was runner-up in this event 12 months ago, recovered an early break to hold a slender 4-3 lead in the opening set.

    However, Raducanu took control with a run of six successive games to draw first blood, before taking control of the second set with a double-break for 3-0.

    Yue fought back to 3-2, but saw a break point go begging in the following game as the Briton eventually held to remain in command. 

    Raducanu had to be patient as her opponent saved five match points to break in game eight, but the world number 70 eventually converted her seventh for victory.

    Data Debrief: Raducanu roars into last eight

    Raducanu has spoken of how she intends to "thrive in Asia" and she is in a good position to do that after reaching her fifth quarter-final of 2024.

    The Briton certainly dominated on the serving front as she hammered 11 aces without reply, while also converting six out of nine break points.

  • Raducanu fights through tough Stearns test to progress in Seoul Raducanu fights through tough Stearns test to progress in Seoul

    Emma Raducanu dug deep to grind out a marathon straight-sets victory over Peyton Stearns to progress at the Korea Open on Tuesday.

    The Brit, who reached the semi-finals in 2022, needed two tie-breaks to win, holding off Stearns 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) in two hours and 46 minutes.

    The play was delayed for 45 minutes due to excessive heat before the pair traded breaks in the opening three games, with Raducanu at one point holding a 4-1 lead before Stearns fought back to force the first tie-break.

    Raducanu prevailed but was put straight back under pressure in a lengthy opening game of the second set, saving break point three times to get off the mark.

    There was little to separate the two throughout though, as they continued to trade breaks before the 2021 US Open champion found her edge again to take the tie-break.

    She will face last year's Korea Open runner-up Yuan Yue in the next round. 

    Data Debrief: Going the distance

    Raducanu was playing her first match since being knocked out of the US Open, and she was certainly made to work for the victory.

    It featured a combined tally of 28 break points and 12 breaks of serve, with eight of those coming in a topsy-turvy first set.

    Raducanu successfully saved nine of 15 break points compared to seven of 13 for Stearns.

  • Raducanu named in Great Britain team for Billie Jean King Cup Raducanu named in Great Britain team for Billie Jean King Cup

    Emma Raducanu has been named in Great Britain's team for the Billie Jean King Cup finals.

    The 2021 US Open winner will be joined by Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Heather Watson and Olivia Nicholls for the event in Malaga.

    Britain defeated France in April to qualify for the knockout stage, with four of the aforementioned five - Watson the exception - taking part.

    Captain Anne Keothavong named her five-member team on Monday ahead of the showpiece, which runs from November 13 to 20.

    "We are really looking forward to the finals in Malaga after qualifying following our fantastic weekend in France in April," Keothavong said.

    "Our team have created excellent memories and put in outstanding performances in this competition in recent years.

    "We will relish the opportunity. There is still a lot of tennis to be played, and changes can be made up until the day before our first match."

    All 12 teams announced their line-ups on Monday, with Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff notable names not included for Poland and the United States respectively.

    World number one Swiatek and world number six Gauff feel they are unable to compete due to a quick turnaround in events to end the year.

    US Open semi-finalist Emma Navarro is also out of the USA squad.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.