Post by : Meena Hassan
In a thrilling match at the WTA Finals, Aryna Sabalenka, currently ranked first, claimed her third consecutive victory in the group stage by besting Coco Gauff 7-6(5), 6-2 on Thursday. This result led to Gauff’s exit from the tournament as she was the defending champion. Consequently, both Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula have secured their spots in the semifinals. Pegula triumphed over Jasmine Paolini earlier, winning 6-2, 6-3 to end her group performance with a record of 2-1, while Gauff finished with a 1-2 record and Paolini at 0-3.
In the upcoming semifinals, Sabalenka is set to challenge Amanda Anisimova in a rematch of the U.S. Open final, while Pegula will face Elena Rybakina.
The match saw Gauff initially take the lead, creating two break points to take a 5-2 advantage and even served for the set at 5-4. However, Sabalenka fought back, ultimately clinching the tiebreak and carrying her momentum into a dominant second set.
“I was already working for the second set,” Sabalenka commented. “That break gave me a lot of confidence.”
Reflecting on her performance, Gauff noted, “I had a lot of chances in the first set. She stepped her level up, and I just couldn't find it after that.”
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