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Jessica Pegula saved a match point to defeat Linda Noskova 7-6 (7-2) 4-6 7-5 at the WTA Finals, advancing to the semi-finals and eliminating fellow American Coco Gauff from the tournament. The grueling contest lasted two hours and 45 minutes, featuring a career-high 16 aces for Pegula and 15 double faults for Wimbledon champion Noskova.
Group Standings and Pegula’s Serving Performance
Noskova had already secured a semi-final spot prior to the match, but Pegula’s hard-fought victory ultimately eliminated Gauff despite her earlier 6-4 7-5 win against Marta Kostyuk. All three players finished the group stage with a 2-1 record, with Noskova winning the group on sets at 5-2, followed by Pegula at 5-3 and Gauff at 4-3.
Reflecting on her performance, Pegula told reporters that she has learned how to manage days when her serve falters and capitalize when it clicks. She noted that after struggling with her serve in her opening matches, she served exceptionally well against Noskova.
Upcoming Semi-Final Clash With Andreeva
Pegula’s victory sets up a semi-final encounter against teenager Mirra Andreeva on Saturday. Commenting on the upcoming fixture, Pegula stated it was the match everyone wanted to see.
The matchup follows an off-court controversy where Pegula was caught on a livestream during a practice session referring to Andreeva as a diva who needs to be humbled, remarks for which she later apologized. WTA chair Valerie Camillo subsequently apologized to Pegula for the regrettable streaming incident.
Despite the tension, Pegula praised her upcoming opponent’s athletic abilities, highlighting Andreeva’s speed, strong serve, power, and court intelligence. Noskova will face the winner of the final round-robin match between Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina.
Gauff Defeats Kostyuk Before Elimination
Earlier in the day, Gauff rallied from a 1-5 deficit in the second set to defeat alternate Marta Kostyuk 6-4 7-5 on Stadium Two. Gauff required medical treatment for her back during the second set but managed to win six consecutive games to close out the match.
Kostyuk entered the eight-player tournament as an alternate following world No 1 Elena Rybakina’s withdrawal due to illness. Hampered by a wrist injury, Kostyuk failed to win a set across her three group matches and was already eliminated before facing Gauff.
