By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday November 3, 2024

Coco Gauff snapped a three-match losing streak to Jessica Pegula, defeating her sometimes doubles partner and always friend 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday in Riyadh to move to the top of her group next to defending champion Iga Swiatek.

Gauff improved to 2-4 lifetime against this year’s US Open finalist, with a 75-minute conquest that featured five breaks of serve from the American and solid serving throughout.

“It was a tough match, she’s always a tough opponent,” Gauff said after her 49th win of 2024. “Overall I think I’m just happy with how I played – sometimes it was sloppy, other times it was great. That’s tennis. I thought we were both playing at a high level and I was able to break through on some of the more important points.”



Gauff was also pleased with a serving performance that only included two double-faults.

“I tried to put a lot of first serves in,” she said.

She’ll need to continue doing so.

World No.3 Gauff will look to break a four-match losing streak and overcome a 1-11 lifetime deficit with defending champion Iga Swiatek on Tuesday when the pair meet in round robin play.

Swiatek started slow in Sunday’s first singles match in Riyadh, but engineered a rousing comeback as she rallied from a set and 3-0 down to defeat 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

It was Swiatek’s first live match since her quarterfinal loss at the 2024 US Open, and the five-time major champion came alive down the stretch, winning 13 of the final 17 games.

“I kind of forgot for a while how it is to feel all those things, a bit different stress and emotions,” said Swiatek, who won her first match with new coach Wim Fissette guiding her. “For sure, I needed some time to adapt. The most important thing was that even though it happened, I managed to fight through that. And was patient enough to wait to get better.”

Swiatek improves to 10-3 lifetime at the WTA Finals, but the No.1 ranking lies in the hands of Aryna Sabalenka, who can lock it up by going undefeated in group play.

Last year in Cancun, Swiatek swept her way to the title to reclaim the top ranking from Sabalenka to finish as the WTA’s year-end No.1 for a second consecutive year.

Hungry to achieve that honor in 2024, Sabalenka will face 2024’s breakout star Jasmine Paolini in round robin play on Monday in Riyadh.