(Guadalajara) Iga Swiatek sabotaged Paula Badosa’s birthday by winning 7-5, 6-4 on Monday before leaving the WTA Finals.
The Pole was unable to make it through the group stage after losing in her first two singles matches, but she was able to cap her season – marked by winning two titles – with a smile. She also held off Badosa’s winning streak to eight.
Swiatek, the youngest player in the group at just 20, erased a deficit of one breakage in each set.
Badosa, who celebrated his 24e birthday Monday, was already certain to finish first in her group. She will face her compatriot, the Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, in the semi-finals.
PHOTO CARLOS PEREZ GALLARDO, REUTERS
Paula Badosa
Aryna Sabalenka and Maria Sakkari will face off at the end of the day on Monday, and the winner will meet Anett Kontaveit in the other semi-final.
The four-a-side will get underway on Tuesday, and the final will take place on Wednesday at the Centro Panamericano de Tenis de Zapopan, a suburb of Guadalajara.
Swiatek had bent his back in front of Badosa in their only previous duel, in the second round of the Olympic tournament in Tokyo.
Badosa won her first singles titles this season in Belgrade and Indian Wells, and she is one of six players to break through the top 10 world for the first time in their career in 2021.