Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Jessica Pegula has saved a match point while winning the final three games to beat Linda Noskova 7-6 (7-2) 4-6 7-5 in her round-robin group and advance to the semi-finals of the WTA Finals.
Noskova had already advanced to the final four at the $US10 million ($A15 million) event in the Southern California desert, which was moved from Saudi Arabia because of the Iran war in the Middle East. She and Pegula went 2-1 in Group 1 play.
Pegula’s victory on Thursday (Friday AEDT) knocked out fellow American Coco Gauff, her former doubles partner. Earlier, Gauff rallied to win the final six games and beat Marta Kostyuk 6-4 7-5 in what turned out to be her final match of the year. Pegula lost to Gauff in three sets in their opening match at the season-ending championships.
Noskova, the Wimbledon champion, led 5-4 and held a match point in the third. But Pegula’s serve bailed her out, firing down a career-high 16 aces.
“I feel like no one’s really given me credit for that stat,” Pegula said.
“I’ve turned it around this year.”
She broke Noskova in the next game and closed out the match when a net cord fell back on Noskova’s side on Pegula’s first match point.
Gauff overcame serving issues and visits from a trainer to massage her back during the match.
Kostyuk raced to a 4-0 lead in in the second set, with Gauff twice double-faulting away games.
“I was just preparing to play a third (set) at that point,” Gauff said.
Kostyuk led 5-1 before Gauff’s comeback began. She broke twice to tie the set at 5-5, held for a 6-5 lead and won the match on Kostyuk’s netted forehand.
“One game turned into another and I think she got a little bit frustrated too, so that kind of helped me,” Gauff said.
“Once it was 5-all, I felt momentum was on my side and I just needed to keep my foot on the gas.”
Kostyuk got into the Finals as the first alternate after top-ranked Elena Rybakina withdrew because of a viral illness. The 24-year-old Ukrainian went 0-3 in Group 1 play.
