America’s Jessica Pegula found humor in her defeat by Iga Swiatek during the WTA Finals. Pegula, who lost 6-1, 6-0 to Swiatek in Cancun, Mexico, posted on Instagram that she had “Ended the year through the Iga bakery factory lol”.
Swiatek dominated Pegula in the season-ending tournament, breaking her five times and winning the final 11 games in just 59 minutes. This victory allowed Swiatek to regain her world No.1 ranking from Aryna Sabalenka and claim her first WTA Finals title.
In her victory speech, Swiatek thanked her team for their support throughout the season and acknowledged the dedication of the fans who braved the rain delays and strong winds during the tournament in Cancun.
The decision to hold the event in Cancun received criticism from players like Sabalenka, who accused the WTA of disrespecting women players. However, Swiatek expressed her happiness after winning the title and expressed gratitude towards the fans for their support.
Pegula, despite struggling on her serve and failing to match Swiatek’s energy level, graciously congratulated her opponent and acknowledged Swiatek’s influence in pushing her to become a better player.
Swiatek entered the tournament after a successful run, having won the China Open and not dropping a set in her five matches at the WTA Finals. With this victory, she concludes the season on an 11-match winning streak and will finish the year as the world No.1 for the second consecutive year.
Players voiced their criticism towards the WTA regarding the organization of the event in Mexico, which was hastily decided and experienced construction delays. WTA chief Steve Simon acknowledged the poor conditions and promised changes to address concerns raised by top players.
If you’re interested in award-winning British journalism, you can try The Telegraph for free for one month and enjoy one year for just $9 with our exclusive US offerBroaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
