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Coco Gauff is set to face Marta Kostyuk in her final group-stage match at the 2026 WTA Finals. To keep her semi-final hopes alive, Gauff must secure a victory while simultaneously relying on a loss by Jessica Pegula against Linda Noskova.
Top Movers on the WTA Tour
Former coach Brad Gilbert, speaking on the latest episode of “The Big T Podcast,” identified the three best movers in women’s tennis. Gilbert ranked Gauff as the top mover on the tour “by far,” followed by Iga Swiatek in second and Marta Kostyuk in third.
Regarding the upcoming matchup, Gilbert noted that Kostyuk has faced significant challenges at the tournament. He explained that she entered the event as a late alternate after filming an advertisement in Los Angeles and arriving from Ningbo, where she had sustained a wrist injury. According to Gilbert, these factors have left her “banged up” and unable to perform at her usual level.
Prediction for Gauff vs. Kostyuk
Gilbert expressed confidence in Gauff’s chances, predicting she will win the match in straight sets. He highlighted that Kostyuk has struggled with her backhand—typically her strongest shot—and has faced significant issues with her first serve percentage and double faults. “I like Coco in this one; I think she’s going to be too solid,” Gilbert stated.
Gauff enters the match as the favorite, holding a 4-2 lead in their head-to-head record. Their most recent encounter occurred 82 days ago at the Cincinnati Open, where Gauff secured a 6-2, 6-2 victory. While Gauff lost her most recent match to Noskova, she opened the tournament with a win over Pegula. Conversely, Kostyuk has yet to win a set in California.
Context of the 2026 WTA Finals
The two players are scheduled to meet for the seventh time on Thursday, November 11. Should Gauff advance to the semi-finals, she could potentially face Russia’s Mirra Andreeva. The championship match for the 2026 WTA Finals is slated for Sunday, November 15.
Gauff previously won the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia two years ago. During that 2024 campaign, she advanced through the group stage despite a loss to Barbora Krejcikova. She went on to defeat top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals and secured the title by overcoming Qinwen Zheng in a three-set final.
