LONDON: Four-time Grand Slam champion Iga Świątek has beaten American Coco Gauff at the WTA Finals in Mexico, reported German news agency (dpa).
The American world No. 3 felt the pressure from her Polish opponent, double-faulting four times in a row during the second set on Wednesday in Cancun.
The errors cost Gauff dearly as she gifted the upper hand to Świątek.
Gauff could not mount the comeback as Świątek secured the win 7-5 6-0 as she hopes to take back the world No. 1 crown from Aryna Sabalenka.
The win means she is the first female player to record 65 or more tour-level wins in back-to-back seasons in nearly two decades.
Świątek is the only player to record 65 wins in 2023 with Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz with 64 and 63 wins, respectively.
She will take on Ons Jabeur in her final group match on Friday, Jabeur having beaten Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová 6-4 6-3.
It was the first game between the pair since the Wimbledon final, Jabeur saving six of seven break points in the first set.
Jabeur took the second set after she broke Vondrousova at 3-3 and again after holding serve to set up a crucial match against Świątek. - BERNAMA-dpa