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The Independent UK

Sport

Flo Clifford

WTA Finals live: Elena Rybakina overcomes Jessica Pegula in tight three-set battle to book place in final

WTA Aryna Sabalenka Coco Gauff WTA Finals Amanda Anisimova Elena Rybakina Jessica Pegula Carlos Alcaraz Flo Clifford Jannik Sinner

The semi-finals of the season-ending WTA Finals take place today, with the final four battling for a place in the main event in Riyadh.

Elena Rybakina is through after outlasting Jessica Pegula in a three-set tussle lasting more than two hours, ultimately winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

The Kazakh now has four wins from four this week and although she wasn’t at her best in an error-strewn performance, rediscovered her serve and easy power at the key moments to take down fifth seed Pegula.

She will face the winner of Amanda Anisimova against world No 1 and top seed Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s showpiece, with a first-time winner guaranteed in Riyadh.

Follow live scores and updates from the WTA Finals, below

Jack Draper: ‘It’s been tough to watch Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’

Aryna Sabalenka roars past holder Coco Gauff to reach WTA Finals last-four

Novak Djokovic included in ATP Finals draw as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner groups revealed

WTA Finals LIVE: Latest scores and updates

Elena Rybakina defeats Jessica Pegula in mammoth first semi-final
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka takes on Amanda Anisimova in blockbuster clash
Sabalenka knocked out defending champion Coco Gauff to advance from group stage
First-time champion guaranteed in Riyadh

Elena Rybakina speaks after semi-final victory

17:29 , Flo Clifford

“It was such a tough match. She started pretty well, I was a bit slow, it was not easy to come back but I’m glad that I managed to find my way in the second set.”

She served 15 aces, and says: “Definitely the serve when I needed it, it helped me. I was trying to stay focused each point, we had some very tough rallies. I’m really happy that in the end I managed to push myself a bit more and I won.”

She’s into her 22nd career singles final, and first at the WTA Finals.

Elena Rybakina into the final

17:23 , Flo Clifford

Not a particularly clean match from either player, but ultimately the sheer weight of Rybakina’s shotmaking and that pulverising serve saw her through.

She will face either Amanda Anisimova or Aryna Sabalenka.

GAME, SET AND MATCH! Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 Jessica Pegula

17:21 , Flo Clifford

Another booming unreturnable serve; Pegula gets a hand to it but it drops agonisingly wide.

Elena Rybakina is into the final!

*Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 5-3 Jessica Pegula

17:19 , Flo Clifford

Can Rybakina serve this topsy-turvy encounter out? Pegula shanks the ball into the net after a Rybakina winner. The American looks frazzled.

An ace down the T brings up 30-15... Pegula then fires a speculative attempt at a return wide. Match point...

*Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 5-3 Jessica Pegula

17:17 , Flo Clifford

Somehow, somehow, Rybakina breaks! Pegula errs and drops her racquet in dismay.

Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 4-3 Jessica Pegula*

17:16 , Flo Clifford

Pegula plays it safe, coming to the net to finish off a rally, but her volley straight down the centre is picked off with ease by Rybakina, planting it behind her.

Rybakina looks vexed as she tries to hook the ball out from under her feet and sends it long.

Two hours on the clock. Rybakina gets lucky with a net cord for 40-30 and holds her hand up in apology.

Pegula smacks her racquet on the ground, but without much conviction, as she goes long for deuce.

Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 4-3 Jessica Pegula*

17:13 , Flo Clifford

But Rybakina goes long. Pegula is back in this.

*Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 4-2 Jessica Pegula

17:11 , Flo Clifford

Rybakina comes to the net again but Pegula sees through it, firing a forehand down the line past the Kazakh for a 0-30 lead.

She soaks up the pressure in the next rally, standing firm at the baseline; Rybakina launches her forehand long and Pegula has three break-back points.

One saved, as the force of a venomous backhand almost makes Rybakina fall over. Pegula applauds.

BREAK! *Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 4-2 Jessica Pegula

17:08 , Flo Clifford

Rybakina’s body language has fluctuated throughout this match but she looks much more positive than her oppponent now as she continues to dictate from the baseline.

Pegula deals well with two high balls, planting the overhead into the open court, but drifts long on the next rally and Rybakina has two break points.

A 178km/h ace saves the first.... but at full stretch on the backhand side, she goes long, and the sixth seed has the advantage.

Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 3-2 Jessica Pegula*

17:03 , Flo Clifford

Rybakina follows up an ace - her 14th of the match - with a double fault.

Pegula tries to get on top of it but Rybakina’s speed is troubling her, and she sends it long.

Another unreturnable ace. This feels like it could be a long one.

*Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 2-2 Jessica Pegula

17:01 , Flo Clifford

Pegula looks like she’s just waiting for this to be over.

Another Rybakina error on the forehand side, mishitting long, and she holds. On serve in this decider. It’s not been the highest-quality of matches, to put it mildly - the occasional flash of brilliance amid a lot, a lot, of errors.

Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 2-1 Jessica Pegula*

16:57 , Flo Clifford

Rybakina has come out much more assertive in this set, dictating from the baseline and pulling Pegula side to side... but she overcooks it, and the American earns a break point as Rybakina fires wide.

Pegula chips a return short but the Kazakh is wise to it, racing to a feather-light drop shot. Deuce.

Back and forth we go, another break point saved, and Pegula’s desperate lunge at a serve return doesn’t make it over the net. Rybakina digs herself out of a hole.

*Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 1-1 Jessica Pegula

16:51 , Flo Clifford

Rybakina’s strategy seems to be to just hit harder and harder, and she comes unstuck, a wild looping forehand giving Pegula a hold to 15.

Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 Jessica Pegula*

16:49 , Flo Clifford

A businesslike hold to love for Rybakina to start this set.

GAME AND SECOND SET! *Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4 Jessica Pegula

16:45 , Flo Clifford

Rybakina lands a stroke right at Pegula’s feet at the baseline and she jinks it awkwardly into the net.

The sixth seed brings up another set point.

And seals it with another superb cross-court winner!

Elena Rybakina 4-6, 5-4 Jessica Pegula*

16:43 , Flo Clifford

Rybakina tries to change up the pace, moving forward, but strikes into the net. Advantage Pegula... but we’re back at deuce as Rybakina slams a superb forehand winner past the American’s outstretched racquet!

Long again, though, and we’re back at deuce. Five minutes and counting on the clock for this game.

Elena Rybakina 4-6, 5-4 Jessica Pegula*

16:41 , Flo Clifford

The errors keep coming, but Pegula slams down one of her biggest serves of the day, then hammers the forehand into the corner to move 40-30 up.

She mutters to herself in annoyance as she thumps into the tape. Deuce.

And again, and Rybakina has a set point... but she pulls up in the next rally and goes long!

BREAK! Elena Rybakina 4-6, 5-4 Jessica Pegula*

16:36 , Flo Clifford

Rybakina blinks first, she goes long, and is there a twist in this set?

We’re back on serve.

*Elena Rybakina 4-6, 5-3 Jessica Pegula

16:35 , Flo Clifford

A huge ace out wide to begin.

Another unreturnable serve.

Pegula does well to shuffle behind an awkward serve and catch Rybakina off-balance at the baseline... and as the American moves up the court, the Kazakh fluffs a down-the-line attempt, well wide. 30-30.

And she double faults...

*Elena Rybakina 4-6, 5-3 Jessica Pegula

16:33 , Flo Clifford

Ooh, at 30-30 Rybakina looks to have the cross-court winner sewn up but it drifts wide.

She goes long again, and Rybakina must serve it out.

Elena Rybakina 4-6, 5-2 Jessica Pegula*

16:29 , Flo Clifford

Pegula holds but shouts in frustration at another error; neither player is anywhere near their best here.

An ace drops perfectly on the edge of the line for Rybakina and although Pegula does well to get the next serve back in play, the sixth seed redirects her and plants away the volley. A game away from a decider.

Elena Rybakina 4-6, 4-1 Jessica Pegula*

16:22 , Flo Clifford

Pegula has an opening at 30-30 on the Rybakina serve but a vicious ace - her eighth of this match - shuts that door.

But no, she goes long for deuce... and at advantage, double faults.

Both players are making life difficult for themselves. A whipped forehand cross-court and an error from Pegula seal the hold.

BREAK! *Elena Rybakina 4-6, 3-1 Jessica Pegula

16:17 , Flo Clifford

An hour on the clock.

Pegula narrowly misses the line with an inside-out forehand and waves her hands in frustration.

She goes for the redirect again but it doesn’t work and she’s down 0-40.

One break point is saved, but not the next, and Rybakina moves 3-1 ahead.

Elena Rybakina 4-6, 2-1 Jessica Pegula*

16:12 , Flo Clifford

Vicious first-strike tennis and it’s Rybakina who blinks first; she has Pegula marooned at the back of the court but smashes her volley long! The frustration is evident.

Pegula hustles around the court but slams a forehand wide. She continues to put the pressure on, Rybakina slicing a net volley wide, and it feels like this match is more likely to be decided on errors than winners.

Pegula nets, and Rybakina has the hold.

*Elena Rybakina 4-6, 1-1 Jessica Pegula

16:08 , Flo Clifford

Whatever Rybakina said to herself when she left the court after the first set seems to be working, as she bludgeons her way to 0-40... but Pegula’s backhand redirects her effortlessly and, as she forces another error from the Kazakh, the American drags herself to deuce.

Pinned out wide Rybakina hooks a serve beyond the tramlines... but the winners are back, a down-the-line backhand landing perfectly in the corner.

Pegula responds with one of her own, and holds as Rybakina goes long again.

Elena Rybakina 4-6, 1-0 Jessica Pegula*

16:05 , Flo Clifford

Rybakina races into a 40-0 lead but Pegula has a way back in as she double faults twice in a row for 40-30...

But the American, backpedalling at the baseline, goes long, and she looks annoyed. Early chance to put some pressure on gone.

GAME AND FIRST SET! *Elena Rybakina 4-6 Jessica Pegula

15:56 , Flo Clifford

Pegula gets Rybakina off-balance, firing in behind her, and although the Kazakh gets there she can only palm into the net.

Much better from Rybakina, imperious from the baseline, with a cross-court backhand winner for 30-30.

But an ace down the T brings up set point for Pegula... and Rybakina nets on the next rally to hand it over.

Elena Rybakina 4-5 Jessica Pegula*

15:51 , Flo Clifford

Efficient serving from Rybakina, a wide ace - her 25th of the tournament - helping her to a 40-0 lead.

No answer though to a superb Pegula second serve return, thundered into the corner.

A much better hold for the sixth seed. Pegula must now serve it out.

*Elena Rybakina 3-5 Jessica Pegula

15:48 , Flo Clifford

Rybakina turns to her camp in frustration as another forehand loops well wide of the court.

Now into the net on the backhand side, her 20th unforced error, according to Sky Sports comms.

She attacks a second serve but way too much, the forehand launched wide again... better as she comes forward, piling on the pressure at the net, and Pegula slices into the tape.

A big serve by Pegula and she holds to 15.

Elena Rybakina 3-4 Jessica Pegula*

15:44 , Flo Clifford

An ace for Rybakina is followed by another tame error, straight into the net. Neither player is really finding their rhythm here, particularly on serve, but Pegula is riding the wave better.

Having said that, she jabs at a second serve wildly and sends it into the crowd.

Rybakina gets the hold.

Elena Rybakina 2-4 Jessica Pegula

15:41 , Flo Clifford

Rybakina has some strapping on her serving arm, and appears to scratch at or massage it at the change of ends, looking towards her box. Not sure if there’s a bigger problem there, or just an itch where the tape is, or something.

Either way, the errors keep coming from her. She tries to go for a forehand down the line but whacks the tape.

More luck as she hammers a second serve return cross-court for 40-15... then Pegula gets unlucky with a net cord deep behind the baseline, and suddenly we’re at deuce.

She lashes a forehand down the line... chance to break, but it goes begging, and another error helps Pegula out of trouble for 4-2.

BREAK! Elena Rybakina 2-3 Jessica Pegula*

15:34 , Flo Clifford

Pegula’s easy power and short returns are putting Rybakina on the back foot. From 30-40 down Rybakina battles to deuce but more wild errors are her undoing; she slices into the net and that’s a third straight break of serve.

BREAK BACK! *Elena Rybakina 2-2 Jessica Pegula

15:29 , Flo Clifford

Much more assured from Pegula now, Rybakina finding it difficult to get any rhythm on her groundstrokes.

But Rybakina comes to the net and palms a lovely volley away fro 15-15.

A double fault opens the door at 15-30... and after both players smack into the tape, Rybakina has the chance to break straight back.

An exquisite cross-court forehand by Rybakina just kisses the line, and we’re back level!

BREAK! Elena Rybakina 1-2 Jessica Pegula*

15:25 , Flo Clifford

A wild mishit from Rybakina and she’s down 0-30.

The Kazakh goes for something different, pinning Pegula out wide before reaching for the drop shot... she’s back in this, but a superb backhand by the American, at full stretch, fizzes cross-court and Pegula has the chance to break!

Fist pumps from the American as she duly does, Rybakina looping long.

*Elena Rybakina 1-1 Jessica Pegula

15:22 , Flo Clifford

Pegula moves into a 40-15 lead before Rybakina shows her what she’s made of, a brute of a flat cross-court strike too much for the American.

Pegula nets and suddenly she’s been dragged to deuce. Can’t find a first serve at the moment... but Rybakina can’t quite get the height needed, and nets.

A zinger of a cross-court forehand follows though and we’re at deuce!

Pegula manages to scrap her way out to the hold, but that was a scrappier first service game than she’d have liked.

Elena Rybakina 1-0 Jessica Pegula*

15:19 , Flo Clifford

A swift hold for Rybakina to kick things off, including three aces.

The winner of this will face the winner of Anisimova v Sabalenka, on next.

Rybakina v Pegula on soon

14:50 , Flo Clifford

Seventh seeds Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani have overcome Su-Wei Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets, 6-4 7-6(5), to make the women’s doubles final.

They’ll face the winners of tonight’s second semi-final, between second seeds Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend and fourth seeds Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudermetova.

Elena Rybakina’s clash with Jessica Pegula will be on next, not before 3pm GMT.

Aryna Sabalenka after beating Coco Gauff

14:40 , Flo Clifford

“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.”

Jessica Pegula after beating Jasmine Paolini in straight-sets

14:25 , Flo Clifford

“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.”

Jessica Pegula beats Jasmine Paolini 6-2 6-3

14:10 , Flo Clifford

Before that, Jessica Pegula finally won in straight sets after eight consecutive three-set wins, beating an out-of-sorts and ill Jasmine Paolini.

That alone wasn’t enough to secure qualification, with her fate dependent on Sabalenka seeing off Gauff, but it was businesslike and efficient from the American, who booked a meeting with the resurgent Elena Rybakina.

Aryna Sabalenka beats Coco Gauff, 7-6(5), 6-2

13:55 , Flo Clifford

The final encounter yesterday proved a bit of a classic - or at least, the first set of it was. Defending champion Coco Gauff came out firing and proved just too much for Aryna Sabalenka, racing into a 4-2 lead and earning two break point chances for a 5-2 lead.

But from there Sabalenka fought back, holding serve and breaking as Gauff served for the set at 5-3, ultimately forcing a tie-break.

The world No 1 and top seed continued her imperious form in breakers to snatch the opening set, and with Gauff’s resolve broken and serve crumbling, she ran away with the second to win 7-6(5), 6-2.