Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka fought back from a set down to eliminate Iga Swiatek at the WTA Finals in Guadalajara on Saturday night.
Sabalenka lost the first set 2-6 but won the next two 6-2, 7-5 to leave her 1-1 in the Chichén Itzá group.
This was no easy win though for Sabalenka as the pair held five straight times in the opening set before a break point.
Swiatek earned triple-break point with a strong second serve return before Sabalenka hit her second double fault of the game to fall behind 4-2.
Swiatek kept her nerve to take out the set.
But it went downhill from 2-2 in the second set for the young Pole, as Sabalenka broke her twice to eventually take the set.
With her tail up and confidence oozing, Sabalenka began where she left off in the third.
After four equal games and the set balanced at 2-2, the Belorusian them broke her opponent and as Swiatek’s game faltered under pressure with two consecutive forehand misfires.
At 6-5 Sabalenka served out the match after a pulsating 2 hours and 17 minutes.
“Of course, with the crowd, I felt amazing,” Sabalenka said afterwards.
“I just enjoy every second on the court. I mean, I have never felt this support before. I even felt goosebumps.”
Sabalenka will face No.4 seed Maria Sakkari in the final round-robin match on Monday, with the winner joining group winner Paula Badosa in the semi-finals.
