Iga Swiatek’s journey at the WTA Finals took an unexpected turn on Thursday as the Polish tennis star dominated Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-0 in her final Group Stage match. Despite the emphatic win, Swiatek’s fate in the tournament now hinges on the performance of American Coco Gauff, who is scheduled to face Barbora Krejcikova later today.

Swiatek, the defending champion of the WTA Finals, has struggled to find consistent form in recent months, and her loss to Gauff earlier in the tournament added to her pressure. A stunning straight-set victory over Kasatkina, who filled in for the injured Jessica Pegula, was a much-needed confidence boost. However, the win alone does not guarantee Swiatek a semifinal berth.

Gauff, with two victories already under her belt at the WTA Finals, could decide Swiatek’s fate. If Gauff defeats Krejcikova, Swiatek’s hopes of advancing will be dashed, leaving the world number two eliminated from the tournament. Swiatek needs Gauff’s help to keep her title defense alive, but Gauff is in strong form, having won impressive matches against both Pegula and Swiatek.

Despite not being able to finish higher than number two in the year-end rankings, Swiatek’s dream of repeating as WTA Finals champion remains alive — but it will take more than just her own performance. Swiatek’s journey to the knockout round also depends on her continued high-level play, something she has shown she is capable of, especially in her dominant win over Kasatkina.

Gauff, the rising star, is in excellent form, but she faces a tough opponent in Krejcikova, who has beaten her before at the 2021 French Open. However, given Gauff’s recent impressive performances, she remains the heavy favorite in this crucial match.