World number one Iga Swiatek is out of the season-ending WTA Finals in Texas after a shock three-set semi-final defeat by Aryna Sabalenka.
Belarusian seventh seed Sabalenka won 6-2 2-6 6-1 and will face France’s Caroline Garcia in the final on Monday.
Poland’s Swiatek had not dropped a set throughout the Finals but was undone by her opponent’s powerful forehand.
“The only thing I had in my mind was ‘just make her work’. And that’s it,” said 24-year-old Sabalenka.
“It’s only because of that I was able to show unbelievable tennis tonight and get this win.”
Victory marked Sabalenka’s first win in five meetings with Swiatek this season.
She is only the third female player to beat the first, second and third seeds at a tournament since 2000 after her wins over Swiatek, Ons Jabeur and Jessica Pegula.
Earlier, sixth seed Garcia stormed past Maria Sakkari in straight sets to reach the final, taking 75 minutes to win 6-3 6-2.
Greece’s Sakkari, 27, had qualified by topping her group unbeaten, while 29-year-old Garcia – who has claimed three titles in 2022 – went through as group runner-up.
Garcia, who beat Russia’s Daria Kasatkina in a gruelling three-set match on Saturday, said she was feeling tired heading into the semi-finals.
“I was a little bit tired – nothing unusual after such a big match,” she said in her on-court interview.
“This morning, obviously the legs were a bit heavy, but I was just so excited, the emotion and the win yesterday to be playing a semi-final today of the WTA Finals.”
