WTA Finals live: Elena Rybakina overcomes Jessica Pegula in tight three-set battle to book place in final
A place in the WTA Finals showpiece is on the line as the final four compete in Riyadh today
The semi-finals of the season-ending WTA Finals take place today, with the final four battling for a place in the main event in Riyadh.
Elena Rybakina is through after outlasting Jessica Pegula in a three-set tussle lasting more than two hours, ultimately winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The Kazakh now has four wins from four this week and although she wasn’t at her best in an error-strewn performance, rediscovered her serve and easy power at the key moments to take down fifth seed Pegula.
She will face the winner of Amanda Anisimova against world No 1 and top seed Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s showpiece, with a first-time winner guaranteed in Riyadh.
Follow live scores and updates from the WTA Finals, below
Elena Rybakina speaks after semi-final victory
“It was such a tough match. She started pretty well, I was a bit slow, it was not easy to come back but I’m glad that I managed to find my way in the second set.”
She served 15 aces, and says: “Definitely the serve when I needed it, it helped me. I was trying to stay focused each point, we had some very tough rallies. I’m really happy that in the end I managed to push myself a bit more and I won.”
She’s into her 22nd career singles final, and first at the WTA Finals.
Elena Rybakina into the final
Not a particularly clean match from either player, but ultimately the sheer weight of Rybakina’s shotmaking and that pulverising serve saw her through.
She will face either Amanda Anisimova or Aryna Sabalenka.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 Jessica Pegula
Another booming unreturnable serve; Pegula gets a hand to it but it drops agonisingly wide.
Elena Rybakina is into the final!
*Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 5-3 Jessica Pegula
Can Rybakina serve this topsy-turvy encounter out? Pegula shanks the ball into the net after a Rybakina winner. The American looks frazzled.
An ace down the T brings up 30-15... Pegula then fires a speculative attempt at a return wide. Match point...
*Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 5-3 Jessica Pegula
Somehow, somehow, Rybakina breaks! Pegula errs and drops her racquet in dismay.
Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 4-3 Jessica Pegula*
Pegula plays it safe, coming to the net to finish off a rally, but her volley straight down the centre is picked off with ease by Rybakina, planting it behind her.
Rybakina looks vexed as she tries to hook the ball out from under her feet and sends it long.
Two hours on the clock. Rybakina gets lucky with a net cord for 40-30 and holds her hand up in apology.
Pegula smacks her racquet on the ground, but without much conviction, as she goes long for deuce.
Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 4-3 Jessica Pegula*
But Rybakina goes long. Pegula is back in this.
*Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 4-2 Jessica Pegula
Rybakina comes to the net again but Pegula sees through it, firing a forehand down the line past the Kazakh for a 0-30 lead.
She soaks up the pressure in the next rally, standing firm at the baseline; Rybakina launches her forehand long and Pegula has three break-back points.
One saved, as the force of a venomous backhand almost makes Rybakina fall over. Pegula applauds.
BREAK! *Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 4-2 Jessica Pegula
Rybakina’s body language has fluctuated throughout this match but she looks much more positive than her oppponent now as she continues to dictate from the baseline.
Pegula deals well with two high balls, planting the overhead into the open court, but drifts long on the next rally and Rybakina has two break points.
A 178km/h ace saves the first.... but at full stretch on the backhand side, she goes long, and the sixth seed has the advantage.
Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-4, 3-2 Jessica Pegula*
Rybakina follows up an ace - her 14th of the match - with a double fault.
Pegula tries to get on top of it but Rybakina’s speed is troubling her, and she sends it long.
Another unreturnable ace. This feels like it could be a long one.
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