FORT WORTH: France’s Caroline Garcia survived an epic battle with Daria Kasatkina 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5), sending over 42 winners to claim the final spot in the semis of the WTA Finals on Saturday, as world number one Iga Swiatek cruised past American Coco Gauff.

The Cincinnati winner had played some of the best tennis of her career this summer, reaching the US Open semi-final, and showed her fighting spirit was intact, as she outlasted Kasatkina in a 32-point rally for match point.

She will next face Greek Maria Sakkari.

Round robin play concluded later Saturday with Swiatek, already assured of her semi-final berth, beating Gauff 6-3, 6-0. Gauff had already been eliminated from semi-final contention.

Swiatek, winner of the French Open and US Open this year, will face seventh-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the semis.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2022