Jessica Pegula saved a match point to beat Linda Noskova 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 7-5 on Thursday. The win carried her out of her round-robin group at the WTA Finals and knocked fellow American Coco Gauff out of the season-ending championships.
The contest lasted two hours and 45 minutes. The tournament had been moved from Riyadh to Indian Wells due to the United States-Israel war on Iran. Pegula hit a career-high 16 aces, while Wimbledon champion Noskova recorded a career-high 15 double faults.
Pegula reflects on her serve and Andreeva showdown
Pegula said she had learned that the serve does not always feel good, and that the key is managing the days when it does not. She added that she had not served well in her first couple of matches but served well against Noskova. “Sometimes there’s no rhyme or reason,” she told reporters.
The win sets up a first meeting between Pegula and Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva in the semifinals on Saturday. “It’s the match people wanted; well now you are going to get it,” Pegula said.
Pegula had earlier called Andreeva “a diva” who “needs to be humbled”, not realising her remarks were being livestreamed during a practice session before the tournament. In the same comments she praised the World No 3, and she later apologised to those involved. On Thursday she described Andreeva as fast, strong and smart, with a great serve.
Gauff comes back to beat Kostyuk
Earlier, Gauff rallied to beat Kostyuk 6-4, 7-5 on a sun-soaked Stadium Two. She sealed the first set with a stab volley that sent fans leaping to their feet.
Gauff trailed 1-5 in the second set and then won six games in a row. She needed treatment on her back during that set. “I was fully prepared to play a third set there,” she said.
Gauff also said she wanted to finish the season on a high note and give herself the best chance to play in the semifinals. “Either way, I didn’t want to be sad walking off the court,” she said.
Group records and Kostyuk’s injury-hit run
Noskova, Gauff and Pegula each finished 2-1 in the group, while alternate Marta Kostyuk went 0-3. Set records in the group were:
- Noskova, 5-2, to win the group
- Pegula, 5-3
- Gauff, 4-3
Kostyuk had already been eliminated before her match with Gauff, having lost to Noskova and Pegula. She won the Madrid title and reached the French Open semifinals earlier this year. She joined the eight-player event as an alternate after top-ranked Elena Rybakina withdrew due to illness.
Kostyuk failed to win a set in her three matches, as she struggled with a wrist injury.
