The second matches in Group Tracy Austin could have enormous consequences when it comes to qualification scenarios. The winners of the first ties get to play each other in a standout to decide who’s gonna be on a very straightforward path to the semifinals and who will still need plenty of effort to advance. Who do you think will prevail?
Daria Kasatkina vs Cori Gauff
Head-to-head: Kasatkina 2-0
Daria Kasatkina beat Cori Gauff in both their meetings so far, including one this year at Stuttgart. Now they’re facing each other in a match where the loser could very well be eliminated from the WTA Finals.
Gauff’s forehand was put under a lot of pressure by Garcia, who was able to target it with her pace. The same won’t happen against Kasatkina. The Russian really struggled to hit through Swiatek in her first match, allowing the opponent to reset the rallies with ease. While she did fail in this matchup twice before, it seems like under the roof at Fort Worth she should be able to dictate the proceedings.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Iga Swiatek vs Caroline Garcia
Head-to-head: 1-1
Caroline Garcia was the only WTA Finals contestant to defeat Iga Swiatek this year, giving her a painful loss at home in the quarterfinals at Warsawa painful loss at home in the quarterfinals at Warsaw. The Frenchwoman targeted her serve and made sure to wrap up the points early. You could definitely argue that in this matchup, it’s her quality of execution that matters more than the World No. 1’s.
Game-wise, Garcia is among the few opponents that have the ability to trouble the Pole this year. Her serve/return dominance allows her to put the sort of pressure on Swiatek that few are able to achieve. The indoor conditions can only help her with that. The Frenchwoman is a loose cannon, but if she finds her groove, she’ll be difficult to stop.
Prediction: Garcia in 3
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