EElena Rybakina came back from one set down to beat Jessica Pegula 4-6 6-4 6-3 in just over 2 hours in the first semifinal of the WTA Finals reaching the championships match.
Rybakina fired 15 aces and won 73% of her first service points.
Pegula earned an early break in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. Rybakina broke straight back to draw level to 2-2. Pegula converted her second break point in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. The US player held on her next service games and served out the first set 6-4 with a hold at 30 in the 10th game.
Rybakina earned an early break in the fourth game to open up a 4-1 lead. Pegula pulled the break back in the ninth game to pull the match back on serve, when Rybakina made a double fault. Rybakina broke Pegula on her second set point in a five-deuce 10th game with a backhad into the open court to win the second set 6-4 forcing the match to the decider, when Pegula was serving to stay in the set.
Rybakina broke in the sixth game of the third set to take a 4-2 lead. Pegula broke straight back in the the seventh game to reduce the deficit to 3-4. Rybakina earned a second break in the eighth game to take a 5-3 before serving out for the match in the next game.
Rybakina will face Aryna Sabalenka, who beat Amanda Anisimova 6-3 3-6 6-3 in 2 hours and 21 minutes.
Rybakina has extended her winning streak to ten consecutive matches, including the past four against top 10 players. The Kazakh player won all her three matches in Serena Williams round robin Group beating Amanda Anisimova, Iga Swiatek and Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Rybakina has drawn level to 3-3 in her head-to-head matches to Pegula.
“Of course, I’m a little bit tired, but I think everybody feels the same. The season has been long, but everyone is going to try to push no matter what. It’s really the last few matches left, so you try your best. When you get this far into the season, recovery becomes just as important as the tennis itself. I’m just trying to stay healthy, recover well, and do my best in the next one,” the Kazakh said before her semifinal match in Ryiadh”, said Rybakina.
