Jessica Pegula secured her spot in the WTA Finals semifinals after a grueling three-set victory over Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. The marathon match lasted nearly three hours and ended with a 7-6, 4-6, 7-5 scoreline in favor of Pegula.
Match Highlights and Semifinal Outlook
Noskova held a match point during the contest, but Pegula mounted a comeback. Pegula fired a career-high 16 aces, while Noskova struggled with a career-high 15 double faults.
The outcome officially knocked the 2024 WTA Finals champion, Coco Gauff, out of contention. Next, Pegula will face Mirra Andreeva for the first time in her career during Saturday’s semifinals.
Coco Gauff’s Exit
Earlier in the day, Gauff defeated Marta Kostyuk and acknowledged that her tournament fate rested on the outcome of Pegula’s match. Following her elimination, Gauff noted that she plans to attend the Camp Flog Gnaw Festival in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Tribute to Dan Hicks
During the broadcast following Pegula’s victory, the Tennis Channel took time to address the death of broadcast legend Dan Hicks. Although renowned for a wide-ranging sports career, Hicks also covered tennis for NBC at the French Open from 2019 to 2023.
Analysts Tracy Austin and Brad Gilbert shared memories and honored Hicks during the coverage. Austin praised his character and professional dedication, while Gilbert remembered Hicks and his wife, Hannah Storm, dating back to their shared time at ESPN.
