via Getty
TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 08: Naomi Osaka of Japan shakes hands with Iga Swiatek of Poland following a third round match on Day 6 of the Rogers Cup at Aviva Centre on August 08, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
via Getty
TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 08: Naomi Osaka of Japan shakes hands with Iga Swiatek of Poland following a third round match on Day 6 of the Rogers Cup at Aviva Centre on August 08, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Maria Sakkari kicked off her WTA Finals 2021 campaign in style as she defeated Iga Swiatek in straight sets in her first match. The Greek player completely dominated the match and didn’t give any chance to the Polish player. The final scoreline of the match was 6-2, 6-4.
Surprisingly, Swiatek couldn’t take her loss and broke down after the match. Tears started flowing from her eyes as she was approaching the bench.
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Iga Swiatek didn’t have to face a post-match press conference after the ‘Naomi Osaka’ effect
Since Swiatek was not in a position to field questions from reporters, the management of the WTA Finals 2021 didn’t force her to attend the post-match press conference. Instead, she provided her answers to the journalists without coming in person to the press conference room.
No in-person press conference from Swiatek, who will instead be providing quotes that will be disseminated to journalists.
A new accommodation stemming from Naomi Osaka's advocacy for a more holistic approach to post-match press which, frankly, I'm fine with.
— David Kane (@DKTNNS) November 12, 2021
This is a major change that took place after Naomi Osaka boycotted press conferences during the French Open 2021 citing her mental health issues. When many fans and even the tennis governing bodies criticized her, she withdrew from Roland Garros and took a break from tennis.
via Reuters
Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Tennis – Women’s Singles – Round 1 – Ariake Tennis Park – Tokyo, Japan – July 24, 2021. Iga Swiatek of Poland in action during her first round match against Mona Barthel of Germany REUTERS/Mike Segar
It was at this time when players and fans realized that she was truly committed to making a stand. Thus, it is the Japanese star’s effect that has actually brought a big change to the sport and it recently helped Swiatek to avoid the press conference after her defeat at the WTA Finals 2021.
Watch This Story: How Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, and Others Travel
Barbora Krejcikova will face Garbine Muguruza at the WTA Finals today
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Spain’s Garbine Muguruza will encounter Barbora Krejcikova at the WTA Finals today. The two have had quite some argument when they last met at the US Open 2021 where Muguruza seemed pissed off at Krejcikova’s untimely breaks during the match.
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 5, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic (R) shakes hands with Garbine Muguruza of Spain (L) after their match on day seven of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The Spaniard will be eyeing a revenge of her last two defeats at the hands of the Czech. She has already lost to Karolina Pliskova and therefore, it is a do or die match for her. Will she be able to beat the odds and take down Krejcikova today?
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Also Read: All You Need to Know About the 2021 WTA Finals Ranking Points Distribution System
