Game, Set, World-class matchups

Stunning defeat sets up surprising championship matchup at WTA Finals in North Texas

Aryna Sabalenka upset No. 1 Iga Swiatek to reach the WTA Finals championship.

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The championship tennis match is set for the WTA Finals at Fort Worth’s Dickies Arena on Monday, November 7 - and it’s a matchup few might have seen coming.

No. 7 seed Aryna Sabalenka upset world No. 1 and top seed Iga Swiatek of Poland in an often lopsided three-set semifinal match Sunday night. Sabalenka will play for the title against No. 6 seed Caroline Garcia of France, who had defeated No. 5 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece in their semifinal meeting Sunday afternoon.

Sabalenka and Swiatek battled in a 2-hour-and-7-minute semifinal match in front of one of the largest Fort Worth crowds of the tournament, which began October 31. In front of a largely pro-Swiatek audience (as evidenced by the number of red and white Polish flags, T-shirts, scarves, and signs), Sabalenka prevailed 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.

"She deserves the win and congrats to her," Swiatek said after the match.

Swiatek had dominated the WTA Finals as she’d dominated the year in women’s tennis - she had not yet dropped a set in the tournament. She ends the year with a 67-9 win-loss record, and eight singles titles, including two Grand Slams.

Iga Swiatek is the No. 1 women's tennis player in the world. Al Bello/Getty Images

"On one hand I'm sad that I lost, but on the other hand I have one more day off. That's something on a bright side," Swiatek said. "This season has been so intense and I'm so proud of myself that I could play so well till the end of it."

Details of the Sabalenka-Swiatek match can be found here.

The WTA Finals are the prestigious year-end finale for the Women’s Tennis Association, featuring the top eight singles players and doubles teams in the world.

Fort Worth is hosting the tournament for the first time, after it was moved from Shenzhen, China.

The total prize money pool is $5 million.

"It's the last match of the season and I'm ready to give everything I have," Sabalenka said of the final.

Caroline Garcia, WTA Finals Caroline Garcia defeated Maria Sakkari in the semifinal round. Getty Images

Of the championship, Garcia said, "I would like to put pressure on her obviously, and to be able to use [her] ball as well. But I will try to play my game."

The championship singles match between Garcia and Sabalenka will take place at 8 pm Monday, November 7 at Dickies Arena.

It will follow the championship doubles match featuring defending champs Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova against Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens, which begins at 5:30 pm.

More information on the WTA Finals is here and tickets to the championship matches are here.

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Editor's note: A global ice cream chain from India that opened two DFW locations was the hottest topic this week in Dallas. Also of note: A buzzy burger restaurant, the death of a beloved Dallas musician-DJ, and an impressive ranking for Flower Mound. Here are the most-read stories of the week. If you're looking for things to do this weekend, we got you: That list is here.

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2. Acclaimed Burger Schmurger pop-up finds permanent space in East Dallas. A buzzy burger pop-up is graduating to brick-and-mortar status: Burger Schmurger, which has earned oodles of acclaim for its smash burger style of burgers, is moving into a permanent home at 718 N Buckner Blvd., the space previously occupied by Bar None which closed in August..

3. Colorful Dallas musician and DJ Mark Ridlen passes away at 65. A bright and colorful light in Dallas' music scene went out: Mark Ridlen, DJ and musician, passed away on November 17, following a bout with cancer; he was 65. As a professional DJ under the moniker "DJ Mr. Rid," Ridlen had been a steady staple on the local creative scene.

4. Fill up on the festive fare in this roundup of Dallas restaurant news. This roundup of restaurant news around Dallas is all about new menus, with lots of festive-themed dishes and menu additions. There's a new brunch at a surprising destination, new cocktails, and lots of hot chocolate, fitting for the season..

5. Well-to-do Dallas suburb lands on top-10 list of holiday big spenders. It looks like Santa Claus is going to be competing with residents in Flower Mound to see who brings the most lavish holiday gifts this year. Festive Flo-Mo ranked No. 7 in WalletHub's annual report on U.S. cities with the biggest holiday budgets in 2024.