Iga Świątek wins at WTA Finals in first match under new coach Wim Fissette
Iga Świątek had not played since a quarterfinal loss at the US Open.
In short:
World number two Iga Świątek beat Barbora Krejčíková in her first match at the WTA Finals after a two-month absence from the tour.
Świątek had not played since losing in the US Open quarterfinals, in which time she ended her three-year partnership with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski.
Along with Świątek, top seeds Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini all won their opening matches.
Second-seeded Iga Świątek has rallied to beat Barbora Krejčíková 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in her first match in two months at the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff enjoyed a successful start by beating fellow American Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-2.
Świątek, who arrived at the WTA Finals with new coach Wim Fissette, had not played a match since losing to Pegula in straight sets in the US Open quarterfinals in September.
Before taking on the job with second-ranked Świątek, Belgian Fissette had coached major champions including Kim Clijsters, Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep.
"Even though I played a lot of those [practice] matches, I kind of forgot for a while how it is to feel all those things, a bit different stress and emotions," Świątek said after ending a highly successful three-year partnership with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski.
"For sure, I needed some time to adapt. The most important thing was that even though it happened, I managed to fight through that. And was patient enough to wait to get better."
Świątek rallied from 3-0 down in the second set to turn it around against Krejčíková, who has been hit by injuries and had played only 29 matches coming into the finals. Seven of them were victories at Wimbledon.
In the all-American showdown, Gauff converted five of her eight break-point opportunities against Pegula to win her opening match at the year-ending tournament for the top-eight players.
"I thought we both were playing high level," Gauff said.
"I just think I was able to break through on the more important points."
Gauff will face Świątek on Tuesday with the winner taking control of the Orange Group. Pegula will next face Wimbledon champion Krejčíková.
On Saturday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka eased to a straight-sets victory over Zheng Qinwen in the opening match of the finals in Saudi Arabia.
Fourth-seeded Jasmine Paolini of Italy beat fifth-seeded Elena Rybakina in the other Purple Group match.
Świątek is the defending champion.
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