Jessica Pegula secured a hard-fought 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 7-5 victory over Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova on Thursday, a result that propelled her into the semifinals of the WTA Finals and ended the campaign of fellow American Coco Gauff. The tense match lasted two hours and 45 minutes at the tournament, which was relocated from Riyadh to Indian Wells. According to “It’s the match people wanted; well now you are going to get it,”, Pegula.
Pegula recorded a career-high 16 aces during the encounter, while Noskova struggled with consistency, committing a career-high 15 double faults. Reflecting on her performance, Pegula noted the unpredictable nature of her serve throughout the week. She remarked that she has learned how to manage her game on days when her serve is off while capitalizing on moments when it feels effective, adding that there is often no clear rhyme or reason for these fluctuations.
The group stage concluded with Noskova, Gauff, and Pegula each finishing with a 2-1 record, while alternate Marta Kostyuk remained winless. Tie-breaking rules determined the group standings, with Noskova claiming the top spot with a 5-2 set record, followed by Pegula at 5-3 and Gauff at 4-3. In the end, Noskova, Gauff and Pegula all finished 2-1 in the group while alternate Marta Kostyuk went 0-3.
This outcome sets up a high-profile semifinal clash on Saturday between Pegula and Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva. Regarding the matchup, Pegula acknowledged the significant public interest, stating that the audience would finally get the contest they had been anticipating.
Pegula also took the opportunity to address previous comments she made regarding Andreeva, in which she labeled the teenager a diva. While she offered an apology to those affected, she maintained high respect for Andreeva’s skill set, describing the world number three as a fast, strong, and intelligent player with a potent serve. In the same comments, Pegula also praised the World No 3, and she apologised afterwards to those involved.
Earlier in the day, Coco Gauff kept her hopes alive by rallying to defeat Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 7-5 on Stadium Two. After securing the first set with a precise stab volley, Gauff recovered from a 1-5 deficit in the second set, winning six consecutive games to finish the match. After sealing the first set with a stab volley that sent fans leaping to their feet under sunny California desert skies, Gauff rallied from 1-5 down in the second, winning six games in a row.
Despite the victory, Gauff required medical attention for a back issue during the second set. Following the match, the American expressed her determination to finish the season on a positive note, emphasizing her desire to avoid leaving the court with feelings of regret, even as the subsequent results ultimately forced her exit from the tournament.
Marta Kostyuk, who replaced top-ranked Elena Rybakina after the latter withdrew due to illness, concluded her participation in the eight-player field without winning a single set. The Madrid champion and French Open semifinalist was already eliminated before her final match against Gauff, having struggled with a persistent wrist injury throughout the competition.
