Sabalenka and Pegula Advance to WTA Finals Semifinals in Riyadh
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Aryna sabalenka and Jessica Pegula secured their places in the WTA Finals semifinals on Thursday, continuing their campaigns at the inaugural event held in Riyadh. Sabalenka overcame a stern challenge from Coco Gauff,while Pegula dispatched her opponent to reach the final four.
Sabalenka, the four-time major singles champion, demonstrated her renowned composure in crucial moments, particularly excelling in tie-breaks – a facet of her game where she boasts an extraordinary record of 22 wins from 24 played this year.Despite a strong serving performance from French Open champion Gauff,who landed 72% of her first serves and won 62% of first-serve points,Sabalenka capitalized on a late opportunity. Gauff was unable to close out the first set while serving at 5-4, and a double fault ultimately handed Sabalenka two set points in the tie-break, which she converted with a powerful forehand winner.
The Belarusian quickly established a commanding lead in the second set, racing to a 4-0 advantage. Even tho briefly relinquishing one of her breaks, Sabalenka ultimately secured the victory and remains in contention for her first WTA Finals title. This marks her fourth consecutive year reaching the semifinals, having previously fallen to Caroline Garcia in the 2022 final.
Pegula’s victory ensures both players will advance, setting the stage for compelling semifinal matchups. The WTA Finals feature the top eight singles players and doubles teams of the season, culminating in the year-end championships. this year’s event in Riyadh represents a critically important expansion for the tournament, marking the first time it has been held in the Middle East.
