Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula surged into the semi-finals of the WTA Finals in Riyadh on Thursday, each producing commanding straight-sets victories that reshaped the landscape of the Stefanie Graf Group. Sabalenka, the tournament’s top seed, brought Coco Gauff’s title defence to a halt with a focused and disciplined 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 triumph in the closing match of the round-robin stage inside the King Saud University Indoor Arena. Her win secured a flawless 3-0 record in group play, placing her clearly at the top of the standings, while Pegula secured the runner-up position earlier in the day by defeating Italian eighth seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-3.
Sabalenka’s victory now propels her into a highly anticipated rematch of this year’s US Open final, where she will meet fourth seed Amanda Anisimova in Friday’s semi-finals. Pegula, who has been one of the most consistent players throughout the season, will face off against sixth seed Elena Rybakina. Speaking about her upcoming battle with Anisimova, Sabalenka remarked that their matches are always physically demanding and strategically intense, describing them as “great battles” she genuinely looks forward to. The two have produced memorable clashes this season, including a Wimbledon semi-final in which Anisimova prevailed, followed by Sabalenka’s redemption win over her in the US Open championship match.
In her match against Gauff, Sabalenka endured early turbulence. It was the 12th meeting between the two athletes, and Gauff twice held a one-break advantage in the opening set. Sabalenka, however, responded with sharp instincts and powerful baseline hitting, reeling Gauff in each time and eventually forcing a tiebreak. With the pressure at its peak, the Belarusian delivered a cleaner, more composed performance in the breaker to wrap up the set in 55 minutes.
The momentum carried into the second set, where Sabalenka stormed to a 4-0 lead, punishing Gauff with heavy returns and controlling exchanges from the first strike. Although Gauff attempted a brief rally, trimming the deficit to one break, Sabalenka quickly tightened her grip on the match and closed out the contest with firm authority. Afterward, she admitted that she struggled early to find her timing but emphasized that staying aggressive and mentally forward-looking allowed her to turn the opening set in her favor. Finishing the group stage unbeaten, she said, was a satisfying outcome that reflected her determination throughout the week.
Pegula’s earlier performance against Paolini was similarly decisive. Her win not only improved her head-to-head record against the Italian to 4-1 but also served as a measure of revenge for a recent loss to Paolini at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen. Pegula explained that she entered the contest knowing exactly what was required: she needed a straight-sets victory to guarantee her spot in the semi-finals. That clarity, she said, fueled her focus and allowed her to execute her game plan cleanly. The 31-year-old, a former US Open finalist, is now participating in her fourth consecutive WTA Finals, a sign of her sustained excellence on tour.
Evaluating the level of competition this year, Pegula remarked that the field felt deeper and more demanding than in previous seasons. She pointed out that virtually every player in the group had enjoyed stretches of exceptional form throughout the year. With three titles on three different surfaces in her 2024 campaign, Pegula described the season as remarkably competitive, saying the field had been “crazy deep” and more challenging than she recalled from past editions of the tournament.
With both Coco Gauff and former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek eliminated earlier than expected, the championship is now guaranteed to crown a first-time WTA Finals winner on Saturday in Riyadh. The absence of two of the sport’s most dominant young stars adds intrigue to the closing rounds, leaving Sabalenka, Pegula, Anisimova, and Rybakina to battle for one of the most coveted titles in women’s tennis.
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