Aryna Sabalenka finally got to avenge her memorable French Open Final loss to American Coco Gauff.
The world’s No. 1 women’s tennis player defeated Gauff in straight sets, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, to win the Stefanie Graf group and advance to the semifinals at the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Thursday, Nov. 6. It was the first match between Sabalenka and Gauff since June 7 at Roland Garros, when Gauff orchestrated a stunning comeback to claim her second career Grand Slam title.
Sabalenka had 70 unforced errors when the two met at the French Open and later said in her post-match news conference that Gauff won ‘not because she played incredible, (but) because I made all of those mistakes.’ Sabalenka apologized for the comments, with her and Gauff appearing on social media together ahead of the start to Wimbledon to demonstrate they remain on good terms despite a growing rivalry on the court.
Though Sabalenka won this rematch, she endured another set of dicey circumstances facing Gauff as part of the group stage format utilized at the WTA Finals event. Sabalenka trailed 5-3 and was two points from dropping the opening set before charging back to force a tiebreak. She also overcame a 4-2 deficit in the tiebreak and then took control of the match in the second set.
Sabalenka, who repeated as US Open champion in 2025, was facing elimination from the WTA’s year-end championship event had Gauff won the match in straight sets. Instead, it was Sabalenka who ended Gauff’s season and moved within two wins of her first career WTA Finals title.
‘I was just trying to stay aggressive. I was trying to find my rhythm, find my game,’ Sabalenka said during her post-match interview on the court. ‘I was kind of working for the second set already, but magically I was able to turn things around.’
Aryna Sabalenka vs. Coco Gauff WTA Finals highlights
WTA Finals women’s singles results, bracket, schedule
Sabalenka, the top seed at the WTA Finals, is scheduled to face No. 4 seed Amanda Anisimova in the semifinal round on Friday, Nov. 7. Anisimova beat No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek to advance. The winner between Sabalenka and Anisimova moves on to the WTA Finals championship match on Saturday, Nov. 8.
American Jessica Pegula, the No. 5 seed, will play No. 6 seed Elena Rybakina in the other semifinal. Pegula defeated No. 8 seed Jasmine Paolini of Italy in straight sets (6-2, 6-3) on Thursday, while Rybakina was the first to qualify for the semifinal round with upsets of Swiatek and Anisimova earlier this week.