Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula in three sets for her second match at the WTA Masters in Riyadh. Nothing is done in this group, where there will be three for two places in the semi-finals on the last day.
Aryna Sabalenka had to win in straight sets against Jessica Pegula to secure her place in the semi-finals of the WTA Masters in Riyadh, but it failed. The Belarusian certainly beat the American, but in three rounds, and everything will therefore be decided on Thursday in the “Steffi Graf” group. For this fourth match of the year between the two players (Sabalenka’s victory in Miami and at the US Open, defeat in Wuhan), the world no. 1 won 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in 2h03 against the no. 5, in a match made of ups and downs (28 winning shots, 44 unforced errors for Sabalenka), where each of the two players broke their opponent four times.
An air gap for Sabalenka in the second set
In the first set, it was the world No. 1 who signed the first break of the match, at 3-2 on her fourth opportunity. She then served to win the set and also got herself a set point at 5-3, but Pegula saved her and broke the match. But Sabalenka, in turn, took her opponent’s serve on the next game, pocketing the set on her fourth opportunity. However, the Belarusian then experienced a big gap in the second set. She only managed 5 winners, lost her serve in a shutout at 1-1, then was broken again at 4-2, allowing Pegula to equalize at one set all.
A three-way tie is possible
Qualification for the semi-finals was therefore no longer possible on Tuesday, and Sabalenka lost her serve again, at 1-1 in the third set. But the world No. 1 is not the queen of the WTA for nothing, and she immediately equalized at 2-2, achieving a magnificent off-balance backhand, in the left corner, on the break point. This put the Belarusian back in the match, and she followed up with another break at 3-2, before winning on her first match point at 5-3, on a magnificent forehand, once again with a knee on the ground.
It was well worth a nice hug between the two players at the net. They can both still mathematically qualify for the semi-finals. But Coco Gauff, who will be Sabalenka’s opponent on Thursday, can also, and the last day will therefore be rich in suspense. A three-way tie is possible (if Gauff beats Sabalenka and if Pegula beats Paolini), and everything would then be decided according to the ratio of sets.
MASTERS WTA / RIYADH
STEFFI GRAF GROUP
1- Aryna Sabalenka: 2 wins – 0 losses (+3 sets/+9 games)
2- Jessica Pegula: 1-1 (+0 sets/+7 games)
3- Coco Gauff: 1-1 (+1 set/+1 game)
4- Jasmine Paolini: 0-2 (-4 sets/-15 games) >>> ELIMINATED
