Linda Noskova beat Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-3 to become the first semi-finalist at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, while Jessica Pegula beat Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 7-5 to eliminate her and keep alive a Group 1 race with Gauff for the last-four place.
Indian Wells, California: Linda Noskova needed just 1 hour 15 minutes on Tuesday to settle the top of Group 1. The 21-year-old eighth seed, the reigning Wimbledon champion, is making her WTA Finals debut and has not dropped a set in two matches. The day’s second match left Pegula and Gauff, both on one win, chasing the remaining semi-final place after Sunday’s openers.
Noskova takes charge against Gauff
Gauff, the 22-year-old world No. 4, fell behind by a double break early, and her serve stayed shaky. Noskova broke her four times, took the first set 6-3 and then won five straight games to lead 3-0 in the second. She closed the match by hitting her ninth ace on match point.
It was Noskova’s second straight-sets win of the week, after she beat Kostyuk in her opener on Sunday. Her first Grand Slam title came at Wimbledon in July, and she has now beaten two of her three group opponents without conceding a set, with only Pegula left to face. Gauff, who has now made five consecutive WTA Finals, the youngest woman to do so since Martina Hingis between 1996 and 2000, stays at 1-1.
Pegula survives a chaotic second set
Pegula, 32, made a quick start against Kostyuk, breaking in the opening game and again in the seventh to take the first set 6-2. Kostyuk, who arrived as an alternate after world No. 1 Elena Rybakina withdrew with a viral illness, was playing on a five-match losing streak and with a right wrist problem. She had beaten Pegula in both of their meetings this year, in Brisbane and Madrid.
The second set turned into a scramble. The first four service breaks came back to back, and the set then stayed on serve from 3-3. Kostyuk led 5-4, but Pegula held, broke in the 11th game on her fourth break point to lead 6-5 and served it out when Kostyuk sent a forehand long on match point. The win ended Kostyuk’s tournament and put Pegula, the 2023 runner-up, back level with Gauff.
What is left in Group 1
Noskova is through at 2-0, while Gauff and Pegula are both 1-1 and Kostyuk is out at 0-2. The group finishes on Thursday, when Noskova plays Pegula and Gauff meets Kostyuk. Kostyuk can still avoid an 0-3 record and earn an extra $230,000 in prize money with a win. Group 2 began a day earlier, when Sabalenka and Andreeva won their openers.
WTA Finals Group 1, Indian Wells, Tuesday
Linda Noskova bt Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-3 (1 hour 15 minutes)
Jessica Pegula bt Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 7-5
Standings: Noskova 2-0 (qualified), Gauff 1-1, Pegula 1-1, Kostyuk 0-2 (eliminated). Thursday: Noskova v Pegula, Gauff v Kostyuk.
