Pegula Saves Match Point to Beat Noskova and Reach WTA Finals Semis
Jessica Pegula saved a match point to defeat Linda Noskova 6-7, 6-4, 5-7 at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, advancing to the semifinals and eliminating compatriot Coco Gauff.
Jessica Pegula delivered a thrilling performance at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, saving a match point to secure a 6:7 (2:7), 6:4, 5:7 victory over Linda Noskova and booked her place in the semifinals. The American needed a win to advance, effectively eliminating compatriot Coco Gauff, who had earlier defeated Marta Kostyuk and hoped Noskova would seal her qualification.
Pegula entered the match knowing a defeat would end her tournament, while Noskova had already secured her spot in the next round. Pegula took the first set in a tiebreak, dropped the second, and fell behind a break in the deciding set. Trailing 5:4, the Czech player earned a match point on Pegula's serve, but the American dug deep, held serve, broke in the next game, and completed a dramatic comeback. She fired 16 aces—a career high in a WTA match—while her opponent committed 15 double faults.
"Linda is a great player," Pegula said after the match. "Every time we played, if you look at the results of our previous matches, it is literally the same match every time. I knew I would get my chances. I felt like I had chances in the second set, but she is a Grand Slam champion, a great player, and she did a great job turning the match around. Then I had to do the same in the third set."
The victory earned Pegula second place in the group behind Noskova, setting up a semifinal clash with Mirra Andreeva. The matchup promises high intrigue both on and off the court, following an incident last week when Pegula was caught on a hot mic during practice calling the young Russian a "diva." Pegula subsequently apologized to Andreeva, who stated the matter was closed. "This is the match people wanted, so now they are going to get it," Pegula said ahead of their meeting.
The biggest loser of the outcome was Gauff, who earlier completed an impressive comeback against Kostyuk. The 22-year-old American, who won the tournament in 2024, battled lower back pain and trailed 5:1 in the second set before winning six consecutive games to claim a 4:6, 5:7 victory. It marked her second comeback from a 5:1 deficit in the current tournament, but this time it proved insufficient. Gauff finished the group stage with two wins and a loss, exiting the competition following Pegula's crucial win.
