Jessica Pegula saved a match point against Linda Noskova to secure a place in the 2026 WTA Finals semifinals, eliminating Coco Gauff despite her victory over Marta Kostyuk. Meanwhile, Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini completed an unbeaten doubles group stage.
The fifth day of the season-ending championships at Indian Wells delivered a dramatic conclusion to Singles Group 1, with Pegula defeating Noskova 7-6(2), 4-6, 7-5 in two hours and 45 minutes.
Earlier, Gauff had kept her qualification hopes alive with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Kostyuk, recovering from 5-1 down in the second set.
However, Pegula’s victory left three players with identical 2-1 records, with set percentage determining the two semifinalists.
Noskova finished first, Pegula second and Gauff third.
In doubles, Errani and Paolini secured their third consecutive group victory, while Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend advanced after their opponents retired.
Pegula Saves Match Point to Secure Semifinal Place
Jessica Pegula entered her final group match knowing victory over Linda Noskova would guarantee her a place in the semifinals.
The American had lost her opening match to Gauff before recovering to defeat Kostyuk, leaving her with a straightforward equation against the already-qualified Czech.
But Noskova had no intention of making things easy.
Pegula claimed a closely contested opening set in a tiebreak before Noskova responded to take the second 6-4.
The deciding set produced another dramatic finish.
Noskova moved ahead 5-4 and held match point, but a forehand error allowed Pegula to survive.
The American took full advantage, winning the final three games to complete a remarkable victory.
Pegula struck a career-high 16 aces during the two-hour, 45-minute contest, while Noskova finished with 46 winners compared with Pegula’s 35.
The victory was Pegula’s ninth against a top-10 opponent this season and the 52nd of her career.
It also secured her third WTA Finals semifinal appearance in five attempts.
Reflecting on the challenges of maintaining her position among the world’s leading players, Pegula told the WTA:
“When you’re ranked high, everyone’s coming after you, and they want to beat you.”
The 32-year-old will now face Mirra Andreeva in Saturday’s semifinals, their first career meeting.
Gauff Wins but Misses Semifinals
Coco Gauff did everything she could to keep her WTA Finals campaign alive, defeating Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 7-5.
The 2024 champion needed to win her final group match and hope Noskova defeated Pegula.
Gauff made a positive start by claiming the opening set 6-4, but Kostyuk threatened to force a deciding set when she established a 5-1 lead in the second.
The American responded emphatically, winning six consecutive games to complete the straight-sets victory.
However, her hopes depended on the result of the following match.
When Pegula eventually defeated Noskova, Gauff’s elimination was confirmed.
Despite winning two of her three group matches, the American finished third on set percentage.
Kostyuk, who entered the tournament as an alternate following Elena Rybakina’s withdrawal through illness, finished without a victory.
The Ukrainian had been managing a wrist injury during the latter stages of the season.
Noskova Tops Group Despite Defeat
Although Linda Noskova suffered her first defeat of the tournament, her earlier straight-sets victories over Kostyuk and Gauff proved decisive.
The Czech finished with five sets won and two lost, giving her a better set-winning percentage than Pegula and Gauff.
Noskova had already secured her semifinal place before facing Pegula, but her performance throughout the group stage ensured she finished in first position.
The 21-year-old’s tournament has been particularly impressive given the physical difficulties she experienced during the Asian swing.
Speaking about her preparation for the WTA Finals, Noskova explained:
“The first point for me was just to get healthy because in Asia I had some physical problems.”
Her next opponent will be either Aryna Sabalenka or Elina Svitolina, depending on the outcome of their final Group 2 match.
Why Gauff Missed Out
All three leading players in Group 1 finished with two victories and one defeat.
Under the WTA’s round-robin tiebreak rules, the three-way tie was resolved using the percentage of sets won.
The final standings were:
| Player | Match record | Sets won–lost |
|---|---|---|
| Linda Noskova (CZE) | 2–1 | 5–2 |
| Jessica Pegula (USA) | 2–1 | 5–3 |
| Coco Gauff (USA) | 2–1 | 4–3 |
| Marta Kostyuk (UKR) | 0–3 | 0–6 |
Noskova and Pegula advance to the semifinals, while Gauff and Kostyuk are eliminated.
Errani and Paolini Complete Perfect Doubles Group Stage
Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini completed an unbeaten round-robin campaign with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Ellen Perez and Demi Schuurs.
The Italians entered the match having already secured first place in Doubles Group 2 following victories over Siniakova and Townsend, and Cristina Bucsa and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.
They maintained their winning form against Perez and Schuurs, taking the opening set 6-3 before completing the victory in straight sets.
Errani and Paolini finished the group stage with three victories from three matches.
It marks a significant improvement on their previous two WTA Finals appearances together, when they failed to progress beyond the round-robin stage.
The Italians were the final doubles team to qualify for the tournament after winning the Tokyo title in October, but became the first team to secure a semifinal place.
Siniakova and Townsend Advance Following Retirement
Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend secured the second semifinal position in Doubles Group 2 after Cristina Bucsa and Nicole Melichar-Martinez retired from their final round-robin match.
The Czech-American partnership was leading 6-2, 4-2 when the match ended.
Both teams entered the contest with one victory and one defeat, meaning the winner would advance alongside Errani and Paolini.
Siniakova and Townsend had recovered from an opening defeat to the Italians by beating Ellen Perez and Demi Schuurs in straight sets on Tuesday.
Their final victory improved their group record to 2-1 and secured progression to the semifinals for the third consecutive year.
The partnership reached the final in 2024 and the semifinals in 2025.
No confirmed reason for the retirement was available at the time of writing.
WTA Finals Day 5 Results
Singles — Group 1
Jessica Pegula (USA) def. Linda Noskova (CZE) 7-6(2), 4-6, 7-5
Coco Gauff (USA) def. Marta Kostyuk (UKR) 6-4, 7-5
Doubles — Group 2
Sara Errani (ITA) / Jasmine Paolini (ITA) def. Ellen Perez (AUS) / Demi Schuurs (NED) 6-3, 6-4
Katerina Siniakova (CZE) / Taylor Townsend (USA) def. Cristina Bucsa (ESP) / Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) 6-2, 4-2 ret.
What Comes Next?
The final day of round-robin competition takes place on Friday, November 13.
Aryna Sabalenka faces Elina Svitolina in a winner-takes-all match for the remaining singles semifinal position in Group 2.
Mirra Andreeva has already secured first place in the group and completes her round-robin campaign against Karolina Muchova.
The confirmed singles semifinal matchups are:
Mirra Andreeva vs Jessica Pegula
Linda Noskova vs Aryna Sabalenka or Elina Svitolina
In doubles, Errani and Paolini and Siniakova and Townsend await the two qualifiers from Group 1, where Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani have already secured their semifinal place.
Continue Reading
- WTA Finals Explained: Format, Qualification and Prize Money
- The WTA Tour Explained
- Marta Kostyuk Gets Surprise WTA Finals Spot
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