Gauff Eliminated; Sabalenka and Pegula Advance to Semifinals
Aryna Sabalenka continued her impressive performance at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, securing her third consecutive group stage win. On Thursday, she defeated defending champion Coco Gauff with a score of 7-6 (5), 6-2, which ultimately eliminated Gauff from the tournament.
Semifinalists Confirmed
With Sabalenka’s victory, Jessica Pegula also advanced to the semifinals alongside her. Pegula secured her spot after a decisive 6-2, 6-3 win over Jasmine Paolini earlier in the day, bringing her group stage record to 2-1. In contrast, Gauff finished with a record of 1-2, while Paolini ended her tournament with three losses, finishing at 0-3.
Upcoming Semifinal Matches
Sabalenka is set to face Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals, marking a rematch of this year’s US Open final. Meanwhile, Pegula will compete against Elena Rybakina. Both matches are scheduled to take place on Friday.
Match Highlights
- Gauff held a break twice in the first set.
- She had two break points aiming for a 5-2 lead.
- Gauff served for the set at 5-4 but could not maintain her advantage.
- Sabalenka’s crucial breakpoint came after a well-placed drop shot.
Despite leading 4-2 in the tiebreaker, Gauff made critical errors, including a netted backhand and a double fault, which allowed Sabalenka to seize two set points. Sabalenka converted the second with a powerful forehand winner. She dominated the second set after breaking Gauff in the opening game.
Player Reactions
After the match, Sabalenka expressed her focus, stating, “Something clicked, and I was able to break, and that game gave me a lot of confidence.” Meanwhile, Gauff reflected on her performance, saying, “I had a lot of chances in the first set. It was disappointing not to get that one.”
As the semifinals approach, fans are eager to see how these top players will perform, especially in the face of fierce competition at this season-ending event for the world’s elite tennis players.
