Jessica Pegula saved a match point en route to a gritty 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 7-5 win over Linda Noskova on Thursday. The American advanced from her round-robin group at the WTA Finals and sent fellow countryman Coco Gauff packing from the season-ending championships. This see-saw battle lasted two hours and 45 minutes at Indian Wells, where the tournament moved because of the US-Israeli war on Iran. Pegula hit a career-high 16 aces while Wimbledon champion Noskova committed a career-high 15 double faults in the contest. All three players finished with a 2-1 record, but Noskowa won the group with a 5-2 set record, followed by Pegula at 5-3 and Gauff at 4-3.
Gauff rallies past Kostyuk
Earlier, Gauff rallied to beat Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 7-5 on a sun-soaked Stadium Two. After sealing the first set with a stab volley that sent fans leaping to their feet under sunny California desert skies, Gauff rallied from 5-1 down in the second, winning six consecutive games. "I was fully prepared to play a third set there," said Gauff, who needed treatment on her back during the second set. "It’s the last tournament of the season so I just wanted to finish it on a high note and give myself the best chance to play the semi-finals." Gauff admitted she was not at her physical best, describing the experience as a mental challenge to learn how to play through pain. She struggled with her serve throughout, producing nine double faults to one ace, but still managed to outlast her opponent despite her movement being hampered.
Kostyuk, who joined the eight-player tournament as an alternate after world No 1 Elena Rybakina withdrew because of illness, failed to win a set in her three matches. The Ukrainian received treatment on a wrist injury that has been hampering her since August, limiting her ability to generate pace and spin. Although Kostyuk won the Madrid title and reached the French Open semi-finals, she was already eliminated before her match against Gauff after losing to Noskova and Pegula. Her 0-3 record reflects the toll the long tennis season has taken on several players, including Gauff, who also required medical attention midway through her own match.
Semis ahead for Pegula
The win sets up a first meeting between Pegula and Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva in Saturday’s semi-finals. "It’s the match people wanted, well now you are going to get it," Pegula said. She had earlier called Andreeva "a diva" who "needs to be humbled", but did not realize her remarks were being livestreamed during a practice session before the tournament. In the same comments, Pegula also praised the world No 3, and she apologized afterward to those involved. "She’s fast, she has a great serve, she’s strong, she hits the ball pretty hard and she’s smart," Pegula said on Thursday. "I’m going to do my best." Pegula noted that she learned to manage days when her serve does not feel good, contrasting today’s performance with her earlier struggles in the group stage.
