Jason Collins
Dailysports's expert
Iga Swiatek
Daria Kasatkina
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At the WTA Finals, Iga Swiatek and Daria Kasatkina will face off in the third round. Here’s my exclusive prediction for this matchup—does the substitute stand a chance?
Iga Swiatek
The Polish player arrived at the WTA Finals not in her best form, though she’s likely capable of improving as the tournament progresses. In her first match, she battled through a tough comeback against Krejcikova, overcoming a 0-3 deficit in the second set to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-2. In her second match, Swiatek lost in straight sets to Gauff, 3-6, 4-6.
Swiatek currently sits second in her group, but to secure a semifinal spot, she must win this match. At 23, she’s an experienced player and is ranked World No. 2, though reclaiming the top spot this season is no longer possible.
Daria Kasatkina
Kasatkina joined the Finals as a substitute and waited until the last round of the group stage for her opportunity. Despite these conditions, she still has a chance to advance to the semifinals.
To qualify, Kasatkina must defeat Swiatek and hope for a loss by Krejcikova against Gauff. Her current form is uncertain, but she’s had a strong season, reaching five finals and winning two titles. At 27, she is ranked No. 9 in the world.
Match Facts
- Swiatek has played 36 hard-court matches this season, with 30 wins.
- Kasatkina has won 24 of her 40 matches on artificial surfaces.
- Odds for this match: Swiatek 1.16, Kasatkina 5.1.
Head-to-Head
Swiatek holds a solid advantage in their head-to-head matchups, leading 5-1. The last time they met was two years ago at the WTA Finals as well.
Prediction
While Swiatek is the clear favorite, there’s still an element of unpredictability here given Kasatkina’s uncertain form. I wouldn’t recommend high-stakes bets on this match; ideally, it’s best to consider live betting. A promising option is a total over 19 games.
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