Riyadh Showdown: Pegula, Paolini, Sabalenka, and Gauff Battle for Semifinal Spots
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - November 15, 2023 – Teh WTA Finals are reaching a critical juncture as three players-Jessica Pegula, Jasmine Paolini, and Coco Gauff-vie for the final two semifinal berths alongside Aryna Sabalenka.With Sabalenka already securing her place after wins over Paolini and Pegula, the remaining matches promise high-stakes drama.
Pegula and Paolini will face off in a pivotal contest. Statistically, Pegula has proven evenly matched with the World No. 1 Sabalenka, with both players recording four break points and landing approximately 65% of their first serves.A key prospect for Pegula lies in breaking Paolini’s serve; she has been broken seven times in her first two matches, while Pegula broke Gauff nine times in her opening match in Riyadh. However, Paolini holds a head-to-head advantage, having defeated pegula in straight sets at the Billie Jean King Cup finals in September – their first meeting since montreal in 2023. Paolini is seeking her sixth Top 10 win of the season. Despite a demanding schedule at the Finals and a recent illness, a win over Pegula would shake up the group standings.
Later, Aryna Sabalenka (1) will clash with Coco Gauff (3). Gauff currently leads their head-to-head series 6-5.Sabalenka aims to sweep the group for the first time in her career, following victories against Paolini and Pegula. She seeks to avenge her defeat to Gauff in the roland Garros final, having subsequently defended her US Open title and reached at least the quarterfinals in every tournament since paris. A key to Sabalenka’s success will be frustrating Gauff’s serve with her powerful backhand winners.
Gauff rebounded from a loss to Pegula with a dominant 6-3, 6-2 win over paolini, significantly improving her serving performance-limiting herself to three double faults (compared to 17 in her previous match), landing 60% of her first serves, and winning 75% of points on her second serve, her highest percentage this season. “I’m really happy with how I was able to turn it around,” Gauff said afterward. “Only three double faults — 17 is a big difference. It just shows I have the ability to serve like this.” Gauff, the reigning champion in Riyadh, previously defeated Sabalenka 7-6 (4), 6-3 in the 2022 semifinals on the same court and is aiming for her third consecutive semifinal appearance at the year-end championships.
In doubles action, Katerina siniakova and Taylor townsend (2) have already secured their spot in the semifinals and will face Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider (5), who have been eliminated after a winless start.Siniakova and Townsend previously defeated Andreeva-Shnaider 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3 in the Australian Open semifinals earlier this year, ultimately winning the Grand Slam title.
