RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — High-ranked Aryna Sabalenka earned a 3rd straight group-stage win on the WTA Finals by beating Coco Gauff 7-6 (5), 6-2 on Thursday, eliminating her American opponent from the match within the course of.
Sabalenka’s win means Jessica Pegula superior to the semifinals from the group together with the Belarusian No. 1. Pegula beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-3 earlier to take her report to 2-1. Gauff, the defending champion, completed 1-2 whereas Paolini went 0-3 on the season-ending match for the world’s prime eight gamers.
Sabalenka will tackle Amanda Anisimova within the semifinals on Friday in a rematch of this yr’s U.S. Open closing, whereas Pegula performs Elena Rybakina.
Gauff was up a break twice within the opening set towards Sabalenka and had two break factors to take a 5-2 lead. The American then served for the set at 5-4, however Sabalenka broke by chasing down a drop shot and hitting a forehand winner down the road.
“I used to be already working for the second set, to be sincere,” Sabalenka stated. “One thing clicked and I used to be capable of break and that recreation gave me numerous confidence that I nonetheless acquired it on this set.”
Gauff additionally led 4-2 within the tiebreaker however netted a backhand on the subsequent level and later double-faulted to provide Sabalenka two set factors. After changing the second with one other forehand winner, Sabalenka broke within the opening recreation of the second set and was in full management from there.
“I had numerous possibilities within the first set,” Gauff stated. “It was a bit disappointing to not get that one. She stepped her degree up and I simply couldn’t discover it after that. General, I feel I used to be enjoying a excessive degree.”
