Jessica Pegula reaches WTA Finals semifinals as Coco Gauff is eliminated
Jessica Pegula reached the WTA Finals semifinals after a demanding 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 7-5 victory over Linda Noskova in the tournament’s final round-robin match. The American saved a match point and struck a career-high 16 aces during the two-hour-and-45-minute contest, while Noskova struggled with 15 double faults, also a career high.
The result left Pegula, Noskova and fellow American Coco Gauff with identical 2-1 records in the group. Noskova topped the standings after winning five sets, Pegula finished second with a 5-3 set record, and Gauff’s 4-3 record was not enough to advance under the group tiebreak rules. Pegula will face Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva in Saturday’s semifinal, their first meeting.
Earlier on Thursday, Gauff defeated alternate Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 7-5, recovering from 1-5 down in the second set by winning six consecutive games. Gauff also received treatment for her back, but said she wanted to end the season on a positive note. Kostyuk, who entered after Elena Rybakina withdrew because of illness, had already been eliminated and finished without winning a set in three matches while managing a wrist injury.
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