The line-up for the WTA Finals semi-finals is set, with world No 1 and top seed Aryna Sabalenka bringing a brutal end to Coco Gauff’s title defence and guaranteeing a first-time champion in Riyadh.
The round-robin concluded with a battle of heavyweights as Gauff and Sabalenka faced off for the first time since the French Open final, with qualification on the line.
Jessica Pegula defeated the already-eliminated Jasmine Paolini in straight-sets in the earlier match, creating a three-way fight for qualification.
And although Gauff started brilliantly and was the better player for much of the first set, Sabalenka fought back to force a tie-break, coming back from the brink to win the opener and steamrolling over her opponent 7-6(5), 6-2.
Sabalenka will play another American, Amanda Anisimova, in the semi-finals, while Pegula takes on Elena Rybakina.
Follow live scores and updates from the WTA Finals, below
WTA Finals LIVE: Latest scores and updates
- Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula battle for semi-final place
- Pegula beats Jasmine Paolini 6-2 6-3 and now waits for Gauff-Sabalenka result
- Gauff and Sabalenka then renew rivalry in bid to reach next round
- Elena Rybakina and Amanda Anisimova through, with Iga Swiatek out
Semi-finals set
17:28 , Flo CliffordAryna Sabalenka v Amanda Anisimova
Elena Rybakina v Jessica Pegula
The first one, in particular, is sure to be a cracker.
Aryna Sabalenka into the semi-finals
17:23 , Flo CliffordAryna Sabalenka chats to Sky Sports. “I wasn’t thinking about how to get through it, I was thinking I have to get the win, I was trying to focus on the tennis.” She mentions the infamous Roland-Garros final and trying to avenge it.
She’ll face Amanda Anisimova in the semis, who she’s played in three majors this year - the French and US Opens, and Wimbledon.
“That’s actually crazy,” she says. “She’s an incredible player, we have great battles, I’m so happy to see her back, fighting, playing her best tennis. It’s always enjoyable playing against her.
“I think whenever I focus on myself, without getting over-emotional and staying in the zone, that’s the key for me.”
Aryna Sabalenka beats Coco Gauff, 7-6(5), 6-2
17:14 , Flo CliffordEnormously impressive from Sabalenka to turn around that first set, winning the second in just 32 minutes. But Gauff completely fell apart, both in her serve - which started off well - and her forehand, which dictated much of the first set. Most of all, she lost her composure. Her title defence is over.
Sabalenka and Pegula advance from this group.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Coco Gauff 6-7(5), 2-6 Aryna Sabalenka
17:13 , Flo CliffordA venomous first serve, and Gauff nets!
The defending champion is out. We will have a new champion at the WTA Finals.
Coco Gauff 6-7(5), 2-5 Aryna Sabalenka*
17:12 , Flo CliffordAnother wild mishit from Gauff and Sabalenka has two match points.
Coco Gauff 6-7(5), 2-5 Aryna Sabalenka*
17:12 , Flo CliffordMuch better from Gauff as she fires a forehand return down the line. 30-15.
Coco Gauff 6-7(5), 2-5 Aryna Sabalenka*
17:11 , Flo CliffordThe top seed and world No 1 serves for the match.
Gauff slams a return wide. This appears to only be going one way. 0-30.
BREAK BACK! Coco Gauff 6-7(5), 2-5 Aryna Sabalenka*
17:09 , Flo CliffordBut Gauff double faults to start her service game... and again. 0-30. Six so far in this match.
And a looping forehand goes wide... three break points for Sabalenka.
And the top seed hammers down the line. Advantage Sabalenka again. Gauff looks crushed.
BREAK! *Coco Gauff 6-7(5), 2-4 Aryna Sabalenka
17:07 , Flo CliffordAnd she gets the break back! A brilliant backhand just skims the net and Sabalenka has no reply!
Coco Gauff 6-7(5), 1-4 Aryna Sabalenka*
17:06 , Flo CliffordSabalenka goes wide - Gauff’s forehand is back! Chance to break...
Coco Gauff 6-7(5), 1-4 Aryna Sabalenka*
17:05 , Flo CliffordSabalenka races to a 30-0 lead, then 40-0 as Gauff sprays another return wide.
Better from Gauff as she pushes Sabalenka onto the back foot, a fine forehand that the Belarusian can’t dig back over the net.
And a lovely return, just curled around the net post, brings up a chance at 40-30... even Sabalenka has to applaud.
Another sweet cross-court return, Sabalenka nets, and we’re at deuce!
Coco Gauff 6-7(5), 1-4 Aryna Sabalenka*
17:01 , Flo CliffordGauff is clinging on to her title defence, and a couple of fine serves are a morale-boosting start to this game.
Another groundstroke long from the American and it’s amazing how quickly she’s collapsed, from such a brilliant, locked-in first set.
But she has something to shout about now as Sabalenka bludgeons a bit too close to the sun, firing long, and Gauff is 40-15 up.
Ouch, another double fault on a pressure point. 40-30.
But Sabalenka slices a serve out wide into the net, and the defending champ is on the board.
*Coco Gauff 6-7(5), 0-4 Aryna Sabalenka
16:57 , Flo CliffordSuper second serve from Sabalenka, but Gauff manages to dig it out, she sends a forehand down the line... but it drifts long. Just not going her way.
Gauff finds another brilliant return but the Belarusian is still there; Gauff nets and waves her arms in dismay.
Coco Gauff 6-7(5), 0-3 Aryna Sabalenka*
16:55 , Flo CliffordSabalenka waits ages for a second serve but it seems to throw off her opponent more than her; Gauff’s loopy return is tame and into the net.
Gauff drags herself miserably to the other side of the court as another ace whistles past her.
She gets a point on the board at 30-15 as Sabalenka nets.... and to 30-30, much better defence from the third seed.
A fizzing cross-court rally ends as Gauff hits the tape, and she gently taps her racquet on the floor in frustration, or resignation.
But Sabalenka double faults for deuce.
BREAK! Coco Gauff 6-7(5), 0-3 Aryna Sabalenka*
16:51 , Flo CliffordGauff’s shoulders slump as she falls 0-40 down, after a fine defensive point, pushing Sabalenka deep beyond the baseline, is wasted when she fires an overhead miles long.
The ball toss is all over the place now; Sabalenka has another second serve to attack, which she duly does, and Gauff fires long again. The wind is taken totally out of her sails.
After a 56-minute first set, in which she was the better player for most of it, this is now racing away from her.
*Coco Gauff 6-7(5), 0-2 Aryna Sabalenka
16:49 , Flo CliffordAnd now the wheels look like they’re falling off the Coco Gauff wagon.
Sabalenka breaks to 30, backs it up, and races to 0-30 on Guaff’s serve as the American double faults.
GAME AND FIRST SET! Coco Gauff 6-7(5) Aryna Sabalenka
16:41 , Flo CliffordA huge roar from the top seed as she blasts down a wide serve before planting the forehand into the opposite corner. Sabalenka fights back, and comes through.
What a set of tennis.
Coco Gauff 6-6 Aryna Sabalenka
16:40 , Flo CliffordOh my word, a first double fault of the match for Gauff at the worst time. Sabalenka has set point on the Gauff serve...
She has another second serve but fires long! 6-5, and now a set point on her own serve.
Coco Gauff 6-6 Aryna Sabalenka
16:38 , Flo CliffordAnother huge serve kisses the line. 5-4 to the world No 1.
Coco Gauff 6-6 Aryna Sabalenka
16:38 , Flo CliffordA first sign of frustration from Gauff as she plants tamely into the net. 4-3.
Back on the Sabalenka serve, and again there’s no response to the fizzing out-wide special. 4-4.
Coco Gauff 6-6 Aryna Sabalenka
16:36 , Flo CliffordGauff’s serve is perfectly placed and Sabalenka’s backhand return goes long. 4-2 to Gauff.
Coco Gauff 6-6 Aryna Sabalenka
16:35 , Flo CliffordA scorching rally, one of the best of the match, ends with Sabalenka nudging Gauff’s dinked half-volley into the net.
The Belarusian drops her racquet in frustration as she blasts a backhand wide at the net; Gauff’s defence has been near-faultless. She takes the mini-break, 3-1 - but now Sabalenka does just enough to nudge a drop shot earlier and Gauff can’t respond! 3-2 to the third seed.
Coco Gauff 6-6 Aryna Sabalenka
16:33 , Flo CliffordSabalenka has won 21 tiebreaks this year and lost two. She gets on the board first with some tidy serving.
Gauff responds with an ace out wide of her own. 1-1.
Coco Gauff 6-6 Aryna Sabalenka*
16:32 , Flo CliffordGauff doesn’t look rattled at all, but gets unlucky with a forehand dropping just long. Her team look pensive.
A wild first serve drops about a metre wide of the T... but the second is better, and Sabalenka drifts long.
She soaks up the pressure for 40-15... digs out an amazing get at the far corner, and Sabalenka, with the whole court available to her, dumps the overhead into the net!
To a tie-break we go.
*Coco Gauff 5-6 Aryna Sabalenka
16:28 , Flo CliffordHow will Gauff respond?
Sabalenka is firmly back in this now, fired up, blasting down a classic serve out wide and strike into far corner combo.
Gauff nets, then skies her next return, and the world No 1 holds to love. She’s ahead for the first time in this set.
BREAK! Coco Gauff 5-5 Aryna Sabalenka*
16:26 , Flo CliffordGauff follows a vicious groundstroke with a cheeky forehand slice and Sabalenka pokes into the net... and the Belarusian screams as she can’t get the height on a cross-court strike from Gauff, into the tape again.
A wild forehand from Gauff goes wide for 30-15, and Sabalenka has a go at a second serve, bulldozing through Gauff’s defences and the Amerian nets.
Magical, magical tennis now as Sabalenka rescues a net cord, volleying over and beyond Gauff for a break point... and she gets things back on serve, planting a forehand down the line!
*Coco Gauff 5-4 Aryna Sabalenka
16:20 , Flo CliffordThis one has something of the vibe of unstoppable force meets immovable object. It’s a ludicrously engrossing watch.
A rare error from Gauff, a forehand skewed wide, and Sabalenka looks a little more settled on serve now. She picks her spots well, moving Gauff side to side, and gets to 40-0...
Gauff can’t get any purchase on a second set, and now must serve it out.
Coco Gauff 5-3 Aryna Sabalenka*
16:17 , Flo CliffordGauff changes things up a bit, moving forward, and plants a forehand into the open court.
Sabalenka gets a rare point on the return though as she forces Gauff off-balance and into the net.
But Gauff looks rock-solid, and - I don’t want to jinx this - her serve is holding up well.
Another couple of unforced errors from Sabalenka and Gauff leads 40-15; the Belarusian continues to hammer the ball and sends it long once again.
*Coco Gauff 4-3 Aryna Sabalenka
16:14 , Flo CliffordAnother vicious unreturnable serve.
And one down the T to seal it!
How crucial will that be?
Coco Gauff 4-2 Aryna Sabalenka*
16:12 , Flo CliffordGauff attacks a second serve and a couple of loopy forehands later has Sabalenka pinned in the corner, before blasting down the line. Another break point...
Saved with a 192km/h ace.
Coco Gauff 4-2 Aryna Sabalenka*
16:11 , Flo CliffordSabalenka thinks she’s got it with an awkward half-volley; Gauff gets there but the overhead is long.
But the American responds with a vicious return that Sabalenka dumps into the net.
The world No 1 tries to blast Gauff off the court but she is doing so well to keep her composure, and again Sabalenka is the first to blink, into the net to undo all that good work.
She fires long and Gauff has two break points... one is saved with a neat backhand down the line.
Pushed out wide, Gauff nets on her next return, and we’re at deuce.
Coco Gauff 4-2 Aryna Sabalenka*
16:07 , Flo CliffordBoth players ramp up the intensity and Gauff’s forehand is equal to Sabalenka; the world No 1 does not look happy with herself as she blinks first, going long.
Fine redirection from Gauff, who continues to dictate on the forehand side.
An ace brings up 40-0.
Sabalenka can’t deal with a fizzing low backhand, and skews wide again. Hold to love. Imperious stuff.
BREAK BACK! *Coco Gauff 3-2 Aryna Sabalenka
16:03 , Flo CliffordSabalenka nets and screams in frustration. Gauff is back ahead.
Gauff looks totally cool and composed.
BREAK BACK POINT: Coco Gauff 2-2 Aryna Sabalenka*
16:02 , Flo CliffordMuch better from Gauff, sending Sabalenka from left to right before smashing down the middle with the Belarusian nearly in a box split at the side of the court. A small child goes wild in the stands!
Gauff gets to 0-30 before a fearsome unreturnable serve gets Sabalenka back in this.
Gauff goes off-balance - it looks like she might think Sabalenka may have drifted long at the baseline near her - and fires wide.
Now Sabalenka puts too much juice on a forehand and Gauff has another chance to break back.
BREAK BACK! Coco Gauff 2-2 Aryna Sabalenka*
15:59 , Flo CliffordThe first break point is saved with a lethal backhand cross-court.
But pinned behind the baseline Gauff pushes it long, and we’re back on serve.
*Coco Gauff 2-1 Aryna Sabalenka
15:58 , Flo CliffordOoh, Gauff hits an inch-perfect winner that just kisses the line but Sabalenka is there, and Gauff skies the next ball wide.
Sabalenka looks a bit more settled now... and that gets the crowd going: Gauff has the whole court at her mercy and should put the point away at least twice at the net, but keeps hitting straight into Sabalenka’s strike range and the world No 1 plants it sweetly behind her.
Gauff hits the tape, and Sabalenka has three break-back points.
*Coco Gauff 2-1 Aryna Sabalenka
15:55 , Flo CliffordSabalenka fires down a couple of venomous second serves; the first Gauff can’t bend round the post, but the American stays in the next point, hammering cross-court... Sabalenka, on the stretch, can’t get it down the line, only into the net.
Long again from Sabalenka for 30-30. These pure indoor conditions in theory are perfect for her game, but she can’t quite adjust her power at the moment.
Gauff swipes a backhand into the net, then another as the world No 1 manoeuvres her around efficiently, and Sabalenka is on the board.
Coco Gauff 2-0 Aryna Sabalenka*
15:51 , Flo CliffordSabalenka has a couple of second serves to attack but puts way too much behind one for 15-15.
She thumps a backhand into the net and already looks frustrated.
Under pressure from Gauff at the net she thumps into the tape again! Seven unforced errors already. She looks at her team with a helpless laugh.
The Belarusian looks off-balance as she attacks another second serve, pushing it well wide. A confidence-boosting early hold for Gauff.
BREAK! *Coco Gauff 1-0 Aryna Sabalenka
15:48 , Flo CliffordSabalenka forces Gauff out wide but sprays her next shot a fraction wide.
Gauff does well to stay with her in the next rally, and it already looks like this will just be a battle of who can hit harder. A couple of overhits from both brings up 30-30.
Gauff wallops a second serve return and Sabalenka shanks it well beyond the tramline, and has an early chance to break...
The world No 1 drives forward and has Gauff pinned at the baseline, but the American stays in it, and Sabalenka, with acres of open court, fluffs her drop shot into the net!
*denotes next server
Coco Gauff v Aryna Sabalenka
15:44 , Flo CliffordThis is today’s blockbuster: world No 1 vs world No 3, a battle of titans. The pair have met 11 times. Gauff leads their head-to-head 6-5.
Sabalenka won the toss, and has opted to serve.
Coco Gauff v Aryna Sabalenka
15:40 , Flo CliffordWhile the players warm up, here’s a quick reminder of the permutations of what feels like a needlessly complicated group stage:
If Aryna Sabalenka beats Coco Gauff, by any score, Sabalenka will go through as the group winner and Pegula will go through as runner-up.
If Gauff beats Sabalenka in straight-sets, Gauff will go through as group winner and Pegula will go through as runner-up.
If Gauff beats Sabalenka in three-sets, it will go down to the % of games won!
Coco Gauff v Aryna Sabalenka
15:37 , Flo CliffordOnto the final match of this round-robin. Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka walk out for the rematch of that infamous French Open final.
Jessica Pegula after beating Jasmine Paolini in straight-sets
15:28 , Jamie Braidwood“I finally got a straight set win for the first time in like a few months, so that always feels really good! But no, I thought I served really, really well, just played solid today, was aggressive when I needed to be. There wasn't much negative kind of notes today.
“I'm not a math major, but I'm pretty certain we're going to be seeing more tennis today. So I guess it just depends on the matchup for the next person that I play. I think we're going to be really happy with today, for the rest of the day, maybe for most of the night, and then we kind of have to switch strategies a little bit.”
What Jessica Pegula's win means for WTA Finals qualification
15:25 , Jamie BraidwoodIf Aryna Sabalenka beats Coco Gauff, by any score, Sabalenka will go through as the group winner and Pegula will go through as runner-up.
If Gauff beats Sabalenka in straight-sets, Gauff will go through as group winner and Pegula will go through as runner-up.
If Gauff beats Sabalenka in three-sets, it will go down to the % of games won!
MATCH! Jessica Pegula 6-2 6-3 Jasmine Paolini
15:18 , Jamie BraidwoodWell, well. Jessica Pegula was in business mode as she wraps up a straight-sets win over Jasmine Paolini in just over an hour, her sixth consecutive win against the Italian.
But she’s not through to the semi-finals just yet, despite notching her second win of the week. Pegula, though, gets her first straight-sets win after eight three-set wins in a row.
Jessica Pegula 6-2 3-1 Jasmine Paolini*
14:59 , Jamie BraidwoodPegula is racing through this now and seals a love-hold to consolidate the break of serve with an ace. This has not been Paolini’s tournament at all and she is heading for a third singles defeat in a row, to go along with two defeats in the doubles.
FIRST SET! Jessica Pegula 6-2 Jasmine Paolini*
14:44 , Jamie BraidwoodEmphatic from Pegula. Now, can she win a match in straight-sets? Her last eight wins have all come in three, with the American not winning in straight-sets since beating Ajla Tomljanovic 6-0 6-3 in Beijing in September. She’s made a very good start.
Jessica Pegula 3-1 Jasmine Paolini*
14:29 , Jamie BraidwoodIt’s taken until the third game for Pegula to secure the first break of serve of the match. The American, who reached the final of the WTA Finals in 2023, has made an assured start. Straight-sets wins have been something of a rarity for her of late, but she badly needs one today.
Jessica Pegula v Jasmine Paolini
14:12 , Jamie BraidwoodAs a reminder, a win for Jessica Pegula over Jasmine Paolini does not guarantee her a place in the semi-finals.
If Aryna Sabalenka wins as well, Pegula would advance as runner-up. But things will get complicated if Pegula and Coco Gauff both win.
The only way Pegula can advance with a defeat is if she wins a set and Sabalenka beats Gauff in straight-sets.
The good news for Pegula is she has a 5-0 record against Paolini - although their last meeting was over two years ago.
Jasmine Paolini fit to face Jessica Pegula
14:04 , Jamie BraidwoodFollowing Madison Keys’ withdrawal yesterday, there had been some speculation that Jasmine Paolini would too pull out from the WTA Finals, with the Italian appearing to be struggling with an illness after she was knocked out of both of the singles and doubles tournaments.
However, the two-time grand slam finalist will be facing Pegula in what is a dead-rubber for her. She cannot advance, but there are still 200 points and prize money to fight for.
Amanda Anisimova stuns Iga Swiatek to book semi-finals place
13:57 , Jamie BraidwoodAmanda Anisimova battled from a set down at the WTA Finals for the second match in a row to beat Iga Swiatek yesterdat and claim a place in the semi-finals alongside Elena Rybakina.
In a high-quality contest and the longest match of the tournament so far, Anisimova produced her second comeback of the week to defeat Swiatek 6-7 6-4 6-2 in two hours and 37 minutes, knocking the World No 2 out of the tournament.
Anisimova was on the brink of exiting the WTA Finals when she trailed Madison Keys by a set and a break on Monday, having lost in straight-sets against Rybakina in under an hour, but found a way to win to set up a winner-takes-all clash with Swiatek.
And although she lost won a tight opening set on a tiebreak, Anisimova’s resilience shone through as she secured her second consecutive win against Swiatek, who destroyed the American 6-0 6-0 in the Wimbledon final in July.
Swiatek has now lost two matches in a row from a set up, following her collapse against Rybakina where she lost 12 out of the final 13 games in the match, with Anisimova through to the semi-finals on her tournament debut.
WTA Finals: Who needs what to qualify?
13:55 , Jamie BraidwoodIf Gauff and Pegula win in straight-sets, Sabalenka will be out. If Pegula wins in straight-sets and Gauff wins in three, qualification will be determined by the number of games won across the round-robin.
That scenario, and more, is outlined here:
What Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula need to qualify at WTA Finals
WTA Finals: The results so far
13:54 , Jamie BraidwoodSabalenka began her bid for a first WTA Finals title with a 6-3 6-1 victory over Paolini. Pegula then defeated Gauff 6-3 6-7 6-2, as the defending champion struggled with her serve and forehand.
Gauff responded with a 6-3 6-2 win over Paolini, before Sabalenka rallied to defeat Pegula 6-4 2-6 6-3. The set won by Pegula, though, could make all the difference.
Welcome
13:53 , Jamie BraidwoodCoco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula head into the final day of the WTA Finals round-robin stage all with a chance of reaching the semi-finals.
Defending champion Gauff defeated Jasmine Paolini in straight-sets to keep her chances alive, as World No 1 Sabalenka made her second win with her three-set victory over Pegula.
Gauff plays Sabalenka in the final group match on Thursday, in what is their first meeting since the French Open final in June. Before then, Pegula will face the already-eliminated Paolini, who has been struggling with illness.
Elena Rybakina has advanced as the group winner in the other round-robin, with Amanda Anisimova joining her after her battling win over Iga Swiatek on Wednesday.
