Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Finals Riyadh match.
Barbora Krejcikova enters the Riyadh Finals as the clear underdog despite her Wimbledon title, while Swiatek is among the favourites. However, changes in Swiatek's team and a two-month lack of match practice raise some questions about her readiness.
Iga Swiatek
Swiatek finished another strong season with a record of 59-8, claiming five trophies, including the French Open. Yet, the end of the year has been challenging for the Pole: she lost her top ranking to Aryna Sabalenka and parted ways with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, starting work with Wim Fissette. Over her last nine matches at the Finals, Swiatek has won eight, demonstrating her ability to adapt to top-level competition. Notably, throughout the season, Iga led in service game win percentage (83.1%) and was second in return games won (48.3%).
Barbora Krejcikova
Krejcikova secured her spot at the Finals with her Wimbledon triumph and a top-20 ranking. She boasts an impressive 15-2 record on indoor hard courts since 2020, and despite setbacks in Asia—losing to Jaqueline Cristian in Beijing, Hailey Baptiste in Wuhan, and withdrawing in Ningbo against Mirra Andreeva—Barbora poses a significant threat indoors. She displays versatility and aggressive play, effectively utilising her strong serve and solid return. Krejcikova's string of successful performances on such surfaces, along with her victories in their last two head-to-head meetings (2:0, 2:1 against Swiatek), should not be underestimated.
Iga Swiatek vs Barbora Krejcikova Prediction
Considering Swiatek's limited preparation after more than two months without competitive play and Krejcikova’s effective performances on fast surfaces, a tense and evenly matched contest is expected. We suggest a bet on a total over 18.5 as the match could be drawn out with both players having equal chances to win.
