Thu Nov 07 10:40:00 UTC 2024: ## Pegula Withdraws from WTA Finals due to Knee Injury, Kasatkina Replaces Her
**RIYADH, Saudi Arabia** – American tennis star Jessica Pegula has pulled out of the WTA Finals Riyadh presented by PIF due to a left knee injury. The World No. 6, who was struggling with the injury throughout the week, was unable to recover in time for her final group stage matches.
“I’ve been dealing with a little bit of an injury, and it really flared up this week,” said Pegula. “It felt good in the days before practice, but started creeping up right before my first match. I just don’t feel comfortable moving on court.”
Pegula’s withdrawal has opened the door for Daria Kasatkina, the first alternate, to join the Orange Group. The World No. 9 will now face World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in a crucial match on Thursday.
Swiatek is hoping to rebound from a straight-set loss to Coco Gauff and secure a spot in her third consecutive WTA Finals semifinal. A win over Kasatkina, combined with a Gauff victory over Barbora Krejcikova, would propel Swiatek into the next round, where she would face World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
However, any other outcome in Thursday’s matches will eliminate Swiatek and send Krejcikova and Gauff into the final four.
Pegula, who qualified for her third WTA Finals after a strong second half of the season, was unable to find her rhythm in Riyadh, suffering straight-set losses to both Gauff and Krejcikova.
The American star has also withdrawn from next week’s Billie Jean King Cup in Malaga, Spain, due to the injury.
This unfortunate turn of events comes after Pegula’s successful run to the US Open final, where she became the first American woman to reach a Grand Slam final since Serena Williams in 2019.
First Piper 