World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka delivered a commanding performance on Thursday, November 6, 2025, defeating defending champion Coco Gauff to secure her place in the semifinals of the WTA Finals in Riyadh. The top-seeded Belarusian triumphed with a score of 7-6 (5), 6-2, completing a perfect run in the Steffi Graf group.
Sabalenka Turns the Tables in Grueling First Set
The highly anticipated match began with Gauff, who had previously held a 6-5 head-to-head advantage, breaking Sabalenka's serve in the very first game. The first set was a tense battle of momentum, with Sabalenka breaking back in the fourth game, only for Gauff to reclaim the lead. Facing a 4-5 deficit, Sabalenka dug deep to break Gauff's serve and level the set, forcing a tiebreak.
In the crucial tiebreak, Sabalenka found another gear. After trailing 2-4, she reeled off four consecutive points and ultimately converted her second set point to seize the early advantage. Reflecting on the pivotal moment, Sabalenka shared, "I was already working for the second set, to be honest. Something clicked, and I was able to break, and that game gave me a lot of confidence."
Dominant Second Set Seals the Victory
Carrying the momentum from her first-set comeback, Sabalenka was unstoppable in the second. Her powerful groundstrokes and relentless pressure caused Gauff's error count to rise. Sabalenka surged to a 4-0 lead and never looked back, closing out the match 6-2. This victory not only kept her unbeaten in the tournament but also leveled their personal rivalry at 6-6.
With three consecutive group stage wins, Sabalenka has firmly established herself as the player to beat. She now sets her sights on a semifinal clash against Amanda Anisimova, a rematch of their U.S. Open championship battle. "She always makes me work hard, always great battles against her," Sabalenka said ahead of the match. "I'm excited to play her. I hope it's going to be a great match."
Pegula Joins Sabalenka in the Semifinals
In the other Steffi Graf group match, fifth seed Jessica Pegula of the United States secured the second semifinal berth by defeating Italy's Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-3. Pegula dominated from the start, taking five of the first six games as Paolini struggled with her serve.
"Finally got a straight-sets win for the first time in like a few months," a pleased Pegula stated after the match. "I served well, played solid, and was aggressive when I needed to be. There weren't any negative notes today." Pegula will next face Elena Rybakina, who topped the Serena Williams Group, as both vie for their first WTA Finals title.
