Despite back-to-back wins in the tournament, Sabalenka needed a straight-set victory to guarantee progression. Instead, she will face world number three Coco Gauff in Thursday’s final round, with both players’ semi-final ambitions hanging in the balance.
“[Pegula] played incredible tennis. In the second set she started playing on another level, and when I went a break down in the third I just told myself I had to play more aggressively,” Sabalenka told Sky Sports.
“I felt sorry, but at the same time I was so happy that I was able to find that beast mode inside of me and go after my shots and play unbelievable.”
Earlier, Gauff kept her title defence hopes alive with an emphatic 6-3, 6-2 win over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, bouncing back strongly after a shaky opening match against Pegula, in which she recorded 17 double faults and 75 unforced errors.
The WTA Finals feature the top eight women’s singles and doubles players competing in Saudi Arabia, with a total prize pool of £12m ($15.5m). Elena Rybakina became the first player to secure a semi-final berth by defeating world number two Iga Swiatek in the Serena Williams Group on Monday.
A match of high tension and momentum swings
Sabalenka started strongly, breaking Pegula for a 4-2 lead in the first set and eventually taking the set on her fifth break point opportunity. However, Pegula fought back in the second set, capitalising on Sabalenka’s unforced errors and double faults to take control 6-2.
The final set was a rollercoaster. Pegula initially gained the upper hand, breaking Sabalenka to lead, but the four-time major champion responded with a four-game streak, ultimately sealing the win with a powerful forehand. Sabalenka’s ability to rebound under pressure proved decisive.
Her coach, Anton Dubrov, left his seat midway through the match, reportedly after Sabalenka became frustrated. Reflecting on the incident, Sabalenka said:
“Maybe he did the right move because he really upset me, and that’s why I was able to pull out something else because I was so stressed.”
Thursday’s showdown between Sabalenka and Gauff promises to be a pivotal clash, with both players vying for a coveted spot in the knockout stages of the prestigious tournament.
French Open champion Coco Gauff delivered a confident and commanding performance against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, reasserting herself as a title contender at the WTA Finals in Riyadh. After a shaky opening match against Jessica Pegula, Gauff reduced her double faults to three and cut her unforced errors by more than half, showcasing improved consistency and composure from the baseline.
Gauff quickly took control of the match, breaking world number eight Paolini to love in the opening set and resisting three break points to build a 3-0 lead. She maintained pressure throughout, immediately responding whenever Paolini attempted a comeback, and eventually served out the set with authority.
In the second set, Gauff converted her first break point following a precise forehand winner and then powered through a five-game streak to secure a 6-3, 6-2 victory, demonstrating her ability to adapt and refocus.
“I'm really happy with how I played today; it was definitely a turnaround from my first match,” Gauff said.
“It's the beauty of this tournament that you have another chance to prove yourself.”
The victory keeps Gauff in contention for a semi-final berth and sets up a crucial clash against world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the final round of the Stefanie Graf Group.
In doubles action, second seeds Taylor Townsend and Katarina Siniakova also advanced to the semi-finals from the Liezel Huber Group, defeating third seeds Erin Routliffe and Gabriela Dabrowski 6-4, 7-6 (7-3). Their progression was confirmed when Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani overcame Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider 7-5, 2-6, 10-7, eliminating the Russian duo from the competition.
With singles and doubles semi-finals now shaping up, the tournament in Saudi Arabia continues to deliver high-quality matches and intense competition among the world’s top players.