RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) -Defending WTA Finals champion Iga Swiatek was eliminated from the season-ending championship on Thursday after Barbora Krejcikova's 7-5 6-4 win over Coco Gauff meant the Polish world number two failed to advance to the last four.

Iga Swiatek defeated Daria Kasatkina in the Group Stage of the WTA Finals but still needs some luck to advance to the semifinals.

Going into the final day of round-robin matches, Sabalenka, Zheng, and Gauff had already qualified for the semifinals. The final spot was between Swiatek and Krejcikova, with the

Gauff and Sabalenka have faced each other eight times with a 4-4 head-to-head record. Sabalenka won their match at the Wuhan Open last month, and the pair split the other two recent meetings at Grand Slam finals: the 2023 US Open which Gauff won and the 2024 Australian Open which Sabalenka won.

Coco Gauff beat defending champion Iga Swiatek 6-3 6-4 at the WTA Finals in Riyadh on Tuesday to reach the semi-finals and ensure Aryna Sabalenka would finish the year as world number one. It was Gauff's second win over Swiatek in 13 meetings.

Aryna Sabalenka will end the year as world No. 1 for the first time, 12 months on from surrendering the honor in the final stages of the season. Iga Swiatek’s 3-6, 4-6 defeat to Coco Gauff at the WTA Tour Finals in Riyadh,

This story has been updated to reflect confirmation of Aryna Sabalenka as year-end WTA world No. 1. RIYADH — This time last year, Aryna Sabalenka was at the heart of a player re