After experiencing a breakthrough in 2020, Iga Świątek has quickly established herself as a leading figure on the women’s tour. In addition to having four major titles under her name, the Polish tennis star has also reached the top spot in the rankings at the mere age of 22. Continuing her incredible on-court momentum, the young WTA sensation enjoyed five triumphant runs this season. Prior to her Roland Garros victory, the ‘Queen of the Clay’ also secured two crowns in Doha and Stuttgart.

On top of all this, Iga Świątek further extended her singles title tally at her home event in Warsaw and then later at the recently concluded China Open. Given her tremendous success this season, the 22-year-old will go into the WTA Finals as the favorite to prevail in the outdoor hard-court tournament in Cancun. Nevertheless, as she seeks her sixth championship, there are three unexpected contenders in the competition who might pose a challenge.

1. Jessica Pegula could disrupt Iga Świątek’s quest

The American tennis star has once again justified all the hype surrounding her as a top-5 player on the women’s tour. Jessica Pegula took the spotlight at Wimbledon, where she reached her sixth Grand Slam quarterfinal in her competitive journey. Just after the grass court season, the 29-year-old emerged victorious at the Canadian Open after outshining the likes of Liudmila Samsonova and Iga Świątek.

Pegula later extended her WTA singles tally to four after clinching the recently concluded Korea Open. In addition to some title-winning runs this season, the current world No. 5 also made it to the latter stages of the tournaments in Dubai and Miami. Due to her outstanding play this season, Pegula is currently leading the pack in hard-court victories.

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The 6-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist will now carry on her stellar form to the WTA Finals. In doing so, Pegula will further give a tough fight to the likes of Iga Świątek, whom she has already defeated twice this season.

2.  Maria Sakkari will also pose a serious challenge to Iga Świątek

This season, the Greek tennis star has found it difficult to play at her best level at a number of events. Sakkari’s lackluster form previously kept her out of contention for the season-ending tournament. However, due to the sudden injury picked by Karolína Muchova, the former world No. 3 has now got a chance to participate in the WTA Finals, where she can pose a serious challenge to her fierce rivals, given her brilliant stats.

With twelve main draw victories in Mexico, the 28-year-old now has more wins than all seven other WTA Finals competitors put together. On top of this, Sakkari also managed to win a singles title this season at the Guadalajara Open, despite not being at her optimum levels. If the Greek manages to find her rhythm at the WTA finals, then she will make it difficult for the top seeds, including Iga Świątek, against whom she is on a 3-2 lead in their H2H.

There are only a few names on the WTA Tour who are currently enjoying an H2H lead against the former world No. 1, Iga Świątek. One of them is Elena Rybakina, who has a 3-1 edge against her Polish colleague, and all of these victories have come this season only. Świątek will undoubtedly be wary of the Kazakhstani tennis star, who has outclassed her three times this season at the Rome Open, the Indian Wells Masters, and also the Grand Slan event in Melbourne.

Apart from Iga Świątek, the former Wimbledon champion also enjoyed some great wins against another top-seed player in the event. It is the new world No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka, who has tasted two defeats at the hands of Rybakina this season at the BNP Paribas Open and the China Open.

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The current world No. 4, who has already sealed two titles this season, will now surely be vying for more glory at the WTA Finals. Rybakina’s powerful serves will suit the outdoor hard courts in Cancun and will also make her one of the favorites to win the highly anticipated event.

Do you think the Polish tennis star can overcome the likes of Rybakina and Pegula at the outdoor hard-court event in Cancun? Let us know in the comments section.

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