Aryna Sabalenka continued her impressive form at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, securing her place in the semifinals with a decisive victory over Coco Gauff. The match concluded with a score of 7-6(5), 6-2, marking Sabalenka’s third consecutive win in the group stage and sealing Gauff’s elimination from the prestigious tournament.
With this result, Sabalenka, the current world No. 1, ensured that American player Jessica Pegula also advanced to the semifinals, as Pegula achieved her second win in the group by defeating Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-3 earlier in the day. Gauff, who was the defending champion, ended her campaign with a 1-2 record, while Paolini finished winless at 0-3.
Looking ahead, Sabalenka is set to face Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals, a rematch of their recent US Open final. Pegula will go up against Elena Rybakina in the other semifinal match-up.
In the encounter against Sabalenka, Gauff started strong, breaking her opponent twice in the first set and holding two crucial break points that could have led her to a 5-2 advantage. However, Sabalenka’s resilience shone through when she broke back while Gauff served for the set at 5-4, spurred on by an impressive forehand winner following a well-placed drop shot.
After the tightly contested first set, which Gauff led 4-2 in the tiebreak but ultimately lost, Sabalenka dominated the second set. Reflecting on the match, Sabalenka commented on the pivotal moment that shifted momentum in her favor, “I was already working for the second set, to be honest. Something clicked and I was able to break, and that game gave me a lot of confidence.”
Gauff expressed her frustration over missed opportunities, particularly in the first set, stating, “I had a lot of chances… It was a bit disappointing not to get that one. She stepped her level up, and I just couldn’t find it after that.”
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on how Sabalenka performs against Anisimova, while Pegula looks to continue her championship run against Rybakina. The stakes are high as the season-ending tournament showcases the world’s elite female tennis players.
