Aryna Sabalenka powered into the semi-finals of the WTA Finals with a 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 victory over Coco Gauff in Riyadh, avenging her defeat in this year’s French Open final. The win ensured Sabalenka topped the Stefanie Graf Group with a perfect record and joined fellow American Jessica Pegula in the last four.
Sabalenka, world number one, recovered from a slow start to overcome Gauff, who needed a straight-sets win to eliminate the Belarusian after Pegula had earlier beaten Jasmine Paolini 6-2 6-3. Despite Gauff’s strong serving performance in the opening set, Sabalenka’s composure and power proved decisive in the tie-break before she raced away with the second.
The result sets up a semi-final clash between Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova, a rematch of September’s US Open final, which Sabalenka won. Pegula will face Elena Rybakina in the other semi-final.
Speaking after the match, Sabalenka said: “We always have great battles. It’s enjoyable playing against her because I know it’s going to be a great fight. 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.”
The defeat ends Gauff’s campaign and guarantees there will be a first-time WTA Finals champion on Saturday.
Sabalenka, 27, has now reached the semi-finals for a fourth consecutive year but is still chasing her first title at the season-ending event, having fallen in the 2022 final to Caroline Garcia.
