RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – World No. 3 Coco Gauff earned the second victory of her career over No. 2 Iga Swiatek to secure her advancement to the semi-finals of the WTA Riyadh Finals presented by PIF. In his 13th career match, Gauff defeated the defending champion 6-3, 6-4 to improve to 2-0 in round-robin play and take control of Group Orange.

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The victory is Gauff’s first over Swiatek since the 2023 Cincinnati Open and snapped the Pole’s six-game winning streak in the WTA Finals. A semi-finalist in Cancun last year, the 20-year-old is now the youngest player to reach consecutive semi-finals at the WTA Finals since Caroline Wozniacki in 2009-10. She is the youngest American to do so since Tracy Austin in 1979-80.

Earlier in the day, Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova easily overcame No. 6 Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-3 to earn her first career WTA Finals singles victory. As a result, Gauff has secured her advancement, but her position will be determined on Thursday’s final day of group play, when she faces Krejcikova.

Swiatek will face Pegula in a rematch of the US Open quarterfinals, which the American won 6-2, 6-4.

Heading into Tuesday night’s match, Swiatek had a dominant 11-1 record against Gauff, including two wins this season in the semifinals at Rome and Roland Garros. But after nearly two months off after the US Open, Swiatek needed three tough sets to overcome Barbora Krejcikova in her first match in Riyadh. Gauff, last month’s China Open champion, easily beat Jessica Pegula in straight sets.

Gauff easily advanced through the first set without facing a single break point. Gaining confidence with each easy game, Gauff kept the pressure on Swiatek, earning break points in four of Swiatek’s five service games in the first set and breaking twice.

Swiatek recovered early in the second set, but continued to struggle with her serve. She broke Gauff twice to take the lead, only to immediately lose the lead in her next service game. Serving to stay in the match at 5-4, Swiatek pushed two long forehands to give up her fifth and final break of the night. The victory is Gauff’s 52nd of the year, the most in a single season of his career.

Gauff finished the night with 10 winners and 33 unforced errors, 11 of which were double faults. Swiatek surpassed Gauff with 15 winners, but made 47 unforced errors.