Siniakova and Townsend Secure Victory at WTA Finals
The No. 2 seeds, Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, successfully turned the tables on last year’s WTA Finals Riyadh final by overcoming a 5–2 deficit in the second set. They triumphed over No. 3 seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe with a score of 6–4, 7–6(3), improving their record to 2–0 in the Liezel Huber Group.
WTA Finals: Scores | Draws | Order of Play
Advancement to Semifinals
This victory, along with Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani’s win over Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider later in the evening, ensures Siniakova and Townsend’s advancement to the WTA Finals semifinals once again.
Head-to-Head Record Evened
The result leveled the head-to-head record between the teams at two wins each, avenging their previous defeat at the US Open final. Townsend acknowledged that the loss lingered, which led to a more strategic approach in Riyadh.
Focus and Execution
“Losing to the same team by just a break in each set is tough,” Townsend stated during her on-court interview. “We’ve put in a lot of effort in practice recently, analyzing past matches to execute our game plan effectively.”
Critical Moments in the Match
Although their win was partially data-driven, Townsend noted they also maintained an energetic vibe. She excelled in serving, never facing a break point and losing only seven points on serve. The match consisted of three pivotal breaks:
- Siniakova and Townsend broke Dabrowski at 3-3 in the first set.
- In the second set, Siniakova’s errors allowed Dabrowski and Routliffe to take the lead.
- Despite Routliffe’s attempt to serve out the set at 5-3, Townsend’s sharp return leveled the score.
Babos and Stefani Find Their Rhythm
Meanwhile, three-time champion Timea Babos and her partner Luisa Stefani erased the memories of their opening loss at the WTA Finals. They rebounded from dropping the second set to defeat Andreeva and Shnaider 7-5, 2-6, [10-7], marking their first win in Riyadh.
Building Momentum
Babos expressed the dramatic nature of their matches and emphasized their support for each other during tough moments. “We’re still in the running for the title,” she added, while Stefani praised their resilience, noting the quick changes in momentum during the match.
Upcoming Challenges
With the match tied at 5-5, Babos and Stefani capitalized on Andreeva’s errors to win the first set. However, the second set saw a quick turnaround, with Andreeva and Shnaider taking control. Ultimately, Babos and Stefani persevered in the match tiebreak, setting up a crucial next match against defending champions Dabrowski and Routliffe, where only one team will advance beyond the group stage.
