Iga Swiatek Calls WTA Finals Exit ‘Karma’ After Amanda Anisimova Defeat

Iga Swiatek couldn’t fight past Amanda Anisimova in the do-or-die WTA Finals round robin clash, losing with a 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-2 scoreline. This is for the second consecutive time that Swiatek failed to qualify for the semifinals of the season-ending championships.

Last year, despite winning two matches, Swiatek’s semifinals plan was spoiled when Barbora Krejcikova defeated eventual champion Coco Gauff in straight sets. Swiatek was the winner in 2023, beating Jessica Pegula in straight sets.

In her previous two round robin matches this year, the Pole first breezed past Madison Keys but lost a three-setter against Elena Rybakina, the only undefeated player in Group Serena Williams. Following the defeat, Swiatek said she did not have any regrets because she gave her all during that clash with Anisimova. She told reporters:

So like, I fought, and I really didn’t give up. It wasn’t enough, which makes me sad. But like, we all need to, like, find some understanding, I guess, because when you do everything and it’s still not enough, I guess it means that you just need to get your tennis better. But I felt good mentally, physically, and tennis-wise.

Swiatek has now lost her last two encounters with Anisimova. It was the American ace whom Swiatek demolished in the Wimbledon final, handing her the double bagels. Anisimova got her revenge when she ousted the six-time Grand Slam champion from the US Open quarterfinals and now, from the WTA Finals.

I don’t know, maybe I won too much in last year and this is karma. It’s really hard for me to say. It feels kind of weird. It’s not like I’m expecting, but from my experiences, if I put, like, so much intensity and grit and, and I care that much, usually it kind of paid off.

Iga Swiatek added

Swiatek has ended her season with three titles from four finals. After a sluggish start that saw her struggle to reach the final, the 24-year-old finally reached the championship clash of the Bad Homburg Open before she ended her title drought at Wimbledon. The next titles that she lifted were at the Cincinnati Masters and the Korea Open.

Amanda Anisimova recalls her mom’s advice during her match against Iga Swiatek

Amanda Anisimova, who has qualified for the year-end championships for the first time this season on the back of two Grand Slam final appearances and the same number of WTA 1000 final wins, will be playing the semifinals in the ongoing event. The only round-robin match she lost was against Elena Rybakina. Following her match against Iga Swiatek, Anisimova revealed what her mom told her that helped her give her best against the former World No.1.

My mom keeps telling me, ‘You’ve won so many three-set matches this year. You’re so strong. You can do it.’ So I was actually thinking about that. Against Iga today, it was so, so tough.

Amanda Anisimova said during the on-court interview

Had Swiatek won the WTA Finals, the points still wouldn’t have been enough to dethrone Aryna Sabalenka from the top spot. The Belarusian has already clinched the year-end No. 1 trophy before starting her round-robin matches. Swiatek lost the No.1 spot because of her withdrawal from the China Open and the Wuhan Open, the two mandatory WTA 1000 events, last year.

This year, because she failed to defend a title in the five tournaments she won last year, she dropped to the eighth spot, but her run during the grass swing and subsequent events helped her become a top-two player once again. She will remain in the second position this year even if World No.3 Coco Gauff or World No.4 Anisimova ends up winning the event.

Also read: Novak Djokovic Makes Interesting Stan Wawrinka Admission While Addressing the Retirement Question

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