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, without getting over-emotional and just staying in the zone – that’s the key for me.”
Sabalenka’s record in tie-breaks this season has been exceptional — she has won 22 of the 24 she has contested — and that edge proved decisive as she twice fought back from a break deficit in the opener. After clinching the tie-break with a blistering forehand, she raced to a 4-0 lead in set two and, despite briefly surrendering a break, served out the match.
The win sets up a semi-final meeting with Amanda Anisimova on Friday — a repeat of September’s US Open final, which Sabalenka won. Pegula will face Elena Rybakina in the other last-four tie.
Pegula, making her fourth successive WTA Finals appearance, looked in control against Paolini, who arrived at the match feeling unwell and without a rest day because of doubles commitments. Pegula broke twice in each set to wrap up a 6-2 6-3 victory in 63 minutes.
“I served really well, played solid and was aggressive when I needed to be,” the 31-year-old said. “There weren’t many negative notes.”
Pegula won 33 of 41 points on her own serve and faced only one break point, leaving her well placed to challenge for the title.
Gauff’s exit guarantees that the 2025 WTA Finals will produce a first-time champion. For Sabalenka, the semi-final appearance is her fourth in a row at the season-ending event, though she has only reached the final once previously, losing to Caroline Garcia in 2022.
In doubles action, Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani reached the semi-finals with a 2-6 7-5 10-5 victory over defending champions Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe. Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, already assured of progression from the Liezel Huber Group, beat Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider 6-2 6-4.
The singles semi-finals on Friday will determine who plays for the WTA Finals title on Saturday, with Sabalenka and Pegula both aiming to convert strong group-stage form into a maiden year-end crown.