Our WTA Finals day 6 predictions feature world #1 Iga Swiatek who is the only player in this group qualified for the semifinals. Either Caroline Garcia or Daria Kasatkina will join her. Coco Gauff is out of the running and will be disappointed with her showing in Fort Worth. However, she will be keen to finish her year on a winning note so don’t expect her to roll over. Kasatkina vs Garcia is the match that matters on Saturday but both offer intrigue. So, let’s get stuck into our day 6 predictions and make sense of the last day of group stage action.
WTA Finals Day 6 Predictions
Daria Kasatkina vs Caroline Garcia
Head-to-head: 1 – 1
Earlier in the year I detailed Garcia’s storming run to put her back inside the top ten in the world in the women’s game. However, Kasatkina is equally deserving of such praise and has had a remarkable year in her own right. Both are now top ten players with multiple titles to their names this year, As such, this is sure to be an absolute cracker of a match. Garcia has the stronger serve of the two and is undoubtedly the more aggressive player. Kasatkina has the upper hand as far as tennis IQ and variety are concerned.
Fort Worth seems to be rewarding aggression, with more creative or counterpunching players like Ons Jabeur and Jessica Pegula already having been knocked out. As such, I’ll give the slight edge to Garcia here, Here free points won on serve should be the difference maker in this one. That being said, I expect this will be a three set instant classic that either could win.
Prediction: Garcia in 3
Iga Swiatek vs Coco Gauff
Head-to-head: 4 – 0
The previous head-to-head says it all really. Gauff hasn’t found a way to take a set off the world #1 yet, let alone win a match. She’s also been a bit disappointing in Fort Worth, often looking lost out on the court. She will be keen to put up a good showing for her American fans in her final match of the year though. That being said, it’s hard to see how she lives with the power and precision of Swiatek in this one. Rule number one on the WTA Tour this year has been that if Swiatek is at her best she wins, regardless of opponent.
She has two Grand Slams, four WTA 1000 titles, two WTA 500 titles and a 37-match win streak to her name in 2022. She also has a win percentage of 89% for the year. Quite frankly, she’s been on another planet this year and it’s no surprise she’s yet to lose in Fort Worth. There may be an argument for coasting in this match given how much she’s played this year. However, she’s not the type and I expect she’ll come out firing as Maria Sakkari did yesterday. If that’s the case, Gauff is in for another tough day at the office. She likely won’t be picking up her first win against Swiatek any time this year,
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
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