Coco Gauff Battles for Semifinal Spot at WTA Finals Riyadh
Day 6 at the WTA Finals in Riyadh promises to be electrifying, with two singles semifinal berths and one doubles semifinal spot still up for grabs. The spotlight is on Coco Gauff, the defending champion, who is fighting to keep her title defense hopes alive. After a rough start in the group stage with a loss to fellow American Jessica Pegula, Gauff has bounced back impressively. She secured a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, a match that keeps her in contention for the knockout rounds.
Paolini, who had already been eliminated from singles contention, struggled with illness and fatigue, and could not match Gauff’s rhythm. Despite a brief wobble midway through the first set, Gauff regained her composure and played a controlled, dominant game. Speaking after the match, she acknowledged the turnaround from her opening match, saying that the tournament’s format gives players the chance to prove themselves again, and she hopes to capitalize on this in her upcoming clash against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
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Sabalenka, who has been stellar in Riyadh, also secured her second win in the group stage by defeating Pegula in a tough three-set battle, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. The World No. 1 had started with a straight-sets victory over Paolini, but her encounter with Pegula tested her resilience and tactical prowess. With two wins under her belt, Sabalenka now faces Gauff in a rematch of this year’s Roland Garros final, a highly anticipated showdown. Sabalenka has the chance to sweep her group for the first time in her career, while Gauff is aiming to advance to the semifinals at this crown-jewel event for the third consecutive year.
Meanwhile, the Graf Group’s standings remain tense, with 16 possible qualification outcomes. A variety of scenarios involving wins, sets, and percentages of games won could determine which players advance. Gauff and Sabalenka’s match is pivotal, as the results will likely shape the final semifinal lineup. Pegula, who has been consistent in her performances, will face Paolini with hopes of securing a favorable outcome for advancement, though the Italian’s fatigue makes it a challenging contest.
In doubles, a winner-take-all match between defending champions Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe and the team of Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani kicks off the day. Dabrowski and Routliffe, who have previously won titles against this pair, are determined to keep their title defense hopes alive. Meanwhile, Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend have already secured their place in the semifinals and will close out the group stage against Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider.
With intense singles battles and high-stakes doubles matches, Day 6 at the WTA Finals promises drama, thrilling rallies, and pivotal moments as players vie for the coveted semifinal spots in Riyadh. Coco Gauff’s resilience and determination will be tested as she faces Aryna Sabalenka in a match that could define her tournament.
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