Pegula saves match point against Noskova to reach WTA Finals semi-finals and knock out Gauff
Jessica Pegula saved a match point and hit a career-high 16 aces to beat Linda Noskova 7-6 (2), 4-6, 7-5, reaching the WTA Finals semi-finals and eliminating Coco Gauff on percentage of sets won.
Jessica Pegula, WTA Finals 2026 | © Zuma / PsNewz
Jessica Pegula saved a match point to beat Linda Noskova 7-6 (2), 4-6, 7-5 in 2 hours 46 minutes in Group 1 of the WTA Finals in Indian Wells on Thursday night. The American reached the semi-finals and knocked out her compatriot Coco Gauff, who had beaten Marta Kostyuk earlier in the day.
Noskova, Pegula and Gauff all finished with a 2-1 record. Noskova tops the group on percentage of sets won, ahead of Pegula, while Gauff, with four sets won and three lost, misses out.
WTA Finals Group 1: final standings
| Rank | Player | Country | W-L | Sets | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Linda Noskova[8] 
|
|
2-1 | 5-2 | 41-30 |
| 2 |
Jessica Pegula[5]
|
|
2-1 | 5-3 | 44-42 |
| Semi-finals | |||||
| 3 |
Coco Gauff[4]
|
|
2-1 | 4-3 | 37-34 |
| 4 |
Marta Kostyuk[9]
|
|
0-3 | 0-6 | 22-38 |
| Rank | Player | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, November 8 | |||
| 1 |
Coco Gauff[4]
d. Jessica Pegula (5)
|
|
6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2 |
| 2 |
Linda Noskova[8]
d. Marta Kostyuk (9)
|
|
6-2, 6-4 |
| Tuesday, November 10 | |||
| 3 |
Jessica Pegula[5]
d. Marta Kostyuk (9)
|
|
6-2, 7-5 |
| 4 |
Linda Noskova[8]
d. Coco Gauff (4)
|
|
6-3, 6-3 |
| Thursday, November 12 | |||
| 5 |
Coco Gauff[4]
d. Marta Kostyuk (9)
|
|
6-4, 7-5 |
| 6 |
Jessica Pegula[5]
d. Linda Noskova (8)
|
|
7-6 (2), 4-6, 7-5 |
Pegula escapes at 5-4
Pegula won a first-set tie-break 7-2, but Noskova, who had already clinched her place in the semi-finals, fought back to take the second set 6-4. Pegula converted only one of her seven break points in that set.
Noskova broke early to lead 2-0 in the decider. Pegula broke back for 2-2, but the Czech moved ahead again and earned a match point at 5-4, on the American’s serve. Pegula saved it with her serve, then held with an ace for 5-5. She broke in the next game and closed it out on her first match point, when a net cord fell on Noskova’s side.
Pegula finished with 16 aces, a career high. Her previous best was 14, also against Noskova, in the Berlin final this year. Noskova now leads their head-to-head 3-2.
Pegula faces Andreeva, Gauff’s season is over
As runner-up in Group 1, Pegula will face Mirra Andreeva in the semi-finals on Saturday. It will be their first meeting since Pegula was caught on a hot mic criticising the Russian during practice earlier in the week. Noskova will play the runner-up of Group 2, decided on Friday between Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina.
For Gauff, the 2024 champion, it was the last match of the season. She had come back from 5-1 down in the second set to beat Kostyuk 6-4, 7-5, despite being treated for her lower back. Her opening win over Pegula, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2, had come in three sets, and that dropped set made the difference in the end.
