Gauff Defeats Kostiuk and Awaits Result of Pegula Match in Final Tournament

Coco Gauff defeated Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 7-5 in yesterday’s final round-robin match of the WTA Finals, and now needs her American compatriot Jessica Pegula to lose in order to reach the semifinals.

After taking the first set with a powerful net volley that sent the crowd jumping to their feet under the sunny California desert sky, Gauff erased a 1-5 second-set deficit by winning six consecutive games, keeping alive her hopes of capturing her second WTA Finals title.

Gauff, who required treatment for her thigh during the second set, said, “I was fully prepared to go to a third set.”

Gauff’s fate now rests on her friend and longtime doubles partner Pegula, who will face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion, will advance to the semifinals if Pegula wins; otherwise, she will be eliminated.

Pegula will qualify for the semifinals if she defeats Noskova, who has already secured her spot in the semifinals after winning her group.

Kostyuk, who won the Madrid title and reached the French Open semifinals, was already eliminated from the tournament before her match against Gauff, following losses to Noskova and Pegula.

Kostyuk, who qualified for the eight-player event as a substitute after world No. 1 Elena Rybakina withdrew due to illness, failed to win a single set in her three matches.