Aryna Sabalenka produced a powerful comeback to beat Coco Gauff and secure a place in the WTA Finals semi-finals in Riyadh, advancing alongside Jessica Pegula.
Sabalenka's victory completed a clean sweep in the Stefanie Graf Group as she defeated Gauff 7-6 (7-5) 6-2. The win also cemented her year-end world number one ranking and left Gauff — the defending champion — eliminated from the tournament.
Going into Thursday's matches, Sabalenka, Gauff and Pegula all knew only two of them could progress. American Pegula had earlier beaten an ailing Jasmine Paolini 6-2 6-3, meaning a straight-sets win for Gauff would have knocked Sabalenka out. Instead, Sabalenka found a way to prevail.
The match had added subtext: Gauff had beaten Sabalenka in the French Open final in June, a match Sabalenka described afterwards as the "worst final I ever played." This time Sabalenka was sharper in the big moments, claiming the opener in a tense tie-break before establishing control in the second set.
"We always have great battles. It's enjoyable playing against her because I know it's going to be a great fight," Sabalenka, 27, said after the match. "Whenever I focus on myself and what I have to do, w
