Jessica Pegula at 31 replicates Venus Williams’ achievement by reaching the WTA Finals semifinals and made a statement no fan expected as reports claims…
Jessica Pegula pulled off a notable feat in Riyadh as the 31-year-old is the oldest player since Venus Williams in 2017 to reach the semifinal stage at the WTA Finals.
The American, who celebrated her 31st birthday in February, was handed a very strong group after drawing Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini. Still, the world No. 5 managed to deliver (d. Gauff and Paolini, l. Sabalenka) and reach the knockout stage.
When Pegula takes on Elena Rybakina on Friday, it will be her second semifinal at the season-ending tournament. Previously, she finished as runner-up in 2023 and failed to make it past the group stage in 2022 and 2024.
Also, the 31-year-old American will be the oldest semifinalist since Williams, who was 37 when she reached the last-four stage at the season-ending tournament in 2017. That year, Williams reached the final before losing to Caroline Wozniacki.
Pegula acknowledged it was all but easy to secure a WTA Finals spot
“I felt like this year was so competitive. I felt like this group has been so strong all year and we’ve all had a time of the year where we’ve played such a high level. I do feel like the level has been crazy, crazy deep this year. It feels a little bit harder than maybe past years,” the world No. 5 said after making it past the Round Robin stage.
As mentioned above, Pegula has already played once in the WTA Finals semifinal. On the other side, 26-year-old Rybakina is set for her debut in this stage of the season-ending tournament.
Pegula leads their head-to-head 3-2.
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Madison Keys out of WTA Finals but Mirra Andreeva rejects alternate spot
Madison Keys’ 2025 WTA Finals campaign has come to an end after the American pulled out of her group-stage finale versus Elena Rybakina.
After losing to Iga Swiatek, Keys also picked up a three-set defeat to Amanda Anisimova – fell to a 0-2 record – and lost her chances of qualifying for the Riyadh semifinal. Moments after losing to Anisimova, the reigning Australian Open champion indicated that she was ill and didn’t shake hands with her rival or the umpire. That instantly led to speculations about whether the 30-year-old would even play against Rybakina on Wednesday.
“Really disappointed to not be feeling my best and ultimately having to withdraw from the tournament. Huge accomplishment to make it this far and very proud of myself for doing that and having a great year. I hope to be back next year,” Keys said in a statement.
Keys not replaced by Mirra Andreeva
Andreeva, who won her first two WTA 1000 titles earlier this year, finished ninth in the Race to the WTA Finals and she was slated to be the first singles alternate. But the 18-year-old is reportedly feeling unwell and she opted not to take on Rybakina. Instead, it will be Ekaterina Alexandrova who will take on the 2022 Wimbledon champion.
“Rybakina is playing Ekaterina Alexandrova. Madison Keys unfortunately too ill so isn’t able to take to the court. Alexandrova is the second alternate because the first alternate, Mirra Andreeva, who is also in the doubles, is pretty under the weather,” Gigi Salmon said on Sky Sports.
Rybakina defeated Anisimova and Swiatek in her opening two matches. With that record, the Kazakh tennis star has already secured a semifinal spot in Riyadh.
Meanwhile, 30-year-old Alexandrova will make her WTA Finals debut when she meets Rybakina today.
Heading into the match, Alexandrova leads their head-to-head 3-2, but the Kazakh won their last meeting in Ningbo last month.
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