Jessica Pegula put on a set point saving clinic in the opening set of her battle with Aryna Sabalenka on Tuesday in Riyadh, saving four in a span of two games as she rallied from a break down to the brink of levelling up at 5-all.
But her work was undone by the relentless World No.1, who captured the fifth set point by forcing a forehand error to take the opening set, 6-4.
Set one in the books, there would still be more turbulence for Sabalenka to endure, but the world No.1 has made a living by coming through tough moments in recent years.
Tuesday was no different as Sabalenka weathered the Pegula storm to remain at the top of the standings in the Stefanie Graf Group, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
The victory means that Thursday will be critical in Riyadh, as Sabalenka, Pegula and Coco Gauff are still alive in the hunt for a semifinal spot in the group.
If Gauff can defeat Sabalenka, and Pegula takes out Paolini, the three players would all finish 2-1 with the standings then decided by the amount of sets and/or games won.
It felt like Pegula had all the momentum as she dominated the second set and took a break lead in the third. The American had lived on the edge, saving 10 of 12 break points through two sets, and another one in the second game in the third before she moved ahead by a break in the very next game.
But Sabalenka went on a tear from there, sounding the alarms and breaking twice in succession to lead 5-2.
She served out the victory two games later, breathing a sigh of relief after rescuing another victory from the jaws of defeat.
“In the third set I was like I have nothing else to do but step in and try to play even more aggressive to put the pressure back on her,” Sabalenka said.
Dubrov Leaves, Sabalenka Returns
Sabalenka gave her coach the business in the third set, and it eventually led to her coach, Anton Dubrov, leaving the arena in the third set.
“I went a bit too much, there was just so much frustration inside of me and I was just trying to let it go,” Sabalenka said. “Honestly I think it was the right move from him to let me be on my own. He really upset me – I was really stressed and angry at him and it helped me to pull out my best tennis.”
Sabalenka improves to 9-3 lifetime against Pegula, and shakes off a defeat at the hand of the American last month in Wuhan.
Sabalenka has already locked up the WTA’s year-end No.1 ranking for the second consecutive year, but she’s still chasing a goal she has yet to accomplish in Riyadh. Though she is making her fifth consecutive appearance at the WTA Finals, and has featured as the top seed four times including this year, she has yet to come away with the title at the tour’s season-ending spectacle.
Sabalenka improved to 37-6 on hard courts this year – she will face Coco Gauff in her final round robin match on Thursday. Additionally, Sabalenka improves to 13-4 against the Top 10 in 2025, and 6-1 vs the Top 5.
