🏆 Aryna Sabalenka Beats Coco Gauff to Reach WTA Finals Semi-Finals
World number one Aryna Sabalenka delivered a statement performance at the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh, defeating Coco Gauff 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 to secure her spot in the semi-finals and avenge her heartbreaking loss in the French Open final earlier this year.
Sabalenka’s victory means she advances from the Stefanie Graf Group with a perfect 3–0 record, joining fellow American Jessica Pegula in the last four.
🎾 Group Drama: Sabalenka, Gauff, and Pegula Battle for Semi-Final Spots
Heading into Thursday’s group-stage matches, Sabalenka, Gauff, and Pegula all had a chance to qualify for the semi-finals.
Earlier in the day, Pegula cruised past Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-3, putting pressure on Gauff to win in straight sets if she wanted to eliminate Sabalenka. However, the 19-year-old American couldn’t repeat her Roland Garros heroics, with Sabalenka raising her level when it mattered most.
The Belarusian star, already guaranteed to finish 2025 as the year-end world number one, showed composure and resilience to recover from a slow start, dominating the tie-break before powering through the second set.
💥 Sabalenka Shows Mental Toughness and Revenge for Roland Garros
The match carried an emotional undertone for Sabalenka, who had labeled her loss to Gauff in the 2024 French Open final as the “worst final I ever played.” This time, the reigning US Open champion turned the tables with an aggressive baseline display and improved serving consistency.
After falling behind early in the first set, Sabalenka broke back twice and took control in the tie-break, sealing it with a thunderous forehand winner. The second set was one-way traffic, as Sabalenka raced to a 4-0 lead and closed out the match confidently.
“We always have great battles,” Sabalenka told Sky Sports after the win. “It’s enjoyable playing against Coco because I know it’s going to be a great fight. Whenever I focus on myself and stay in the zone, that’s the key for me.”
With the victory, Sabalenka remains unbeaten in Riyadh and keeps alive her dream of capturing her first-ever WTA Finals title after reaching the semi-finals for the fourth consecutive year.
📈 Statistical Edge: Sabalenka’s Tie-Break Dominance Continues
Sabalenka’s dominance in tie-breaks continued to be a key factor in her success. She has now won 22 of her last 24 tie-breaks, underlining her ability to stay composed under pressure.
Gauff, for her part, played well in the opening set — hitting 72% of first serves and winning 62% of those points — but struggled at crucial moments. A double fault at 5-4 and missed opportunities on return allowed Sabalenka to swing the momentum in her favor.
Despite Gauff’s power and athleticism, Sabalenka’s aggression from the baseline and clutch serving in key points made the difference.
🔜 What’s Next: Sabalenka vs. Anisimova, Pegula vs. Rybakina
Sabalenka will now face Amanda Anisimova in Friday’s semi-final — a rematch of the 2025 US Open final, where Sabalenka claimed her fourth Grand Slam title.
Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula will take on Elena Rybakina in the other semi-final. Pegula, who has been in outstanding form all week, is bidding to reach her first-ever WTA Finals championship match.
With Gauff eliminated, this year’s tournament is guaranteed to crown a first-time WTA Finals champion — a reflection of the competitive depth in women’s tennis.
💬 Jessica Pegula: “Not Many Negative Notes”
Pegula impressed once again with a dominant display against Jasmine Paolini, winning in just 63 minutes. The American broke her opponent twice in each set and faced only one break point throughout the match.
“I served really well, played solid, and was aggressive when I needed to be,” Pegula said post-match. “There weren’t many negative notes.”
Paolini, who has been competing in both singles and doubles this week, appeared fatigued after a busy schedule but fought valiantly despite the defeat.
🤝 Doubles Results: Babos & Stefani Advance
In doubles action, Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani booked their place in the semi-finals with a 2-6, 7-5, 10-5 victory over defending champions Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe.
Meanwhile, Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, who had already qualified from the Liezel Huber Group, continued their strong form with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider.
🏁 Sabalenka’s Quest for a WTA Finals Crown
For Aryna Sabalenka, this week in Riyadh represents another chance to add a major milestone to her already impressive career. Having fallen short in the 2022 final to Caroline Garcia, the Belarusian is determined to claim the WTA Finals title and end 2025 on a high.
With her power game firing and confidence restored after the French Open setback, Sabalenka looks poised to make a deep run — and possibly cap off her season as not just the world number one, but also the champion of champions.
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