Tennis-Swiatek to play Kasatkina for WTA Finals semis spot after Pegula withdraws

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - WTA Finals - King Saud University Indoor Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - November 5, 2024 Poland's Iga Swiatek reacts during her women's singles group stage match against Coco Gauff of the U.S. REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel/File Photo

(Reuters) - World number two Iga Swiatek will play Daria Kasatkina on Thursday in her must-win match to stay in the hunt for a spot in the WTA Finals semi-finals after Jessica Pegula withdrew from the tournament with a knee injury.

The sixth-seeded American pulled out, the WTA said on Wednesday, after a 6-3 6-3 defeat by Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova on Tuesday ended her chances of qualifying for the last four in Riyadh.