Rybakina hands Sabalenka first loss in WTA Finals; Gauff wins

Elena Rybakina hands Aryna Sabalenka her first loss in the WTA Finals 2024, even as Coco Gauff won over Iga Swiatek to reach the semifinals.

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Elena Rybakina, in purple shirt, in action in old file photo. Rybakina hands Sabalenka first loss in WTA Finals

RYBAKINA HANDS SABALENKA FIRST WTA FINALS LOSS BUT STILL MISSES SEMIS

Rybakina hands Sabalenka her first loss, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, on Wednesday.

Furthermore, the Belarussian world No.1 played her final round-robin tournament match.

Moreover, Rybakina will still miss the semifinals.

“It was a tough match, and really happy I managed to win, and it’s nice to finish the year with this victory against the number one,” Rybakina said.

“I think every match I played here was a little bit better, and it wasn’t easy after such a break (from the sport),” she added.

GAUFF TURNS BACK SWIATEK TO REACH LAST FOUR

Moreover, Gauff turned back world No.2 Swiatek, 6-3, 6-4, to secure her place in the last four.

Furthermore, the American posted her first win over Swiatek since the 2023 Cincinnati Open.

The result means Sabalenka will still remain as world No.1 despite losing to Rybakina.

Swiatek will stay at No.2 in the latest WTA rankings this week after losing to Gauff.

Meanwhile, Gauff improved to 2-0 in the Orange Group, while Swiatek dropped to 1-1.

KNEE INJURY FORCES PEGULA TO WITHDRAW; KASATKINA TAPPED AS REPLACEMENT

Furthermore,  a knee injury has forced Jessica Pegula to withdraw from the tournament.

Moreover, the American world No.45 lost her first two matches in the tournament.

Pegula will be replaced by Daria Kasatkjina, the first alternate coming into the tournament.

Meanwhile, Gauff will face Barbora Krejcikova next, although the American is assured of a semis berth even if she loses.

In her first two-month match, Krejcikova lost to Swiatek in three sets on Sunday.

However, she bounced back by pulling off a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Pegula to become the lowest-ranked player to win a WTA Finals match.

Magda Maleeva was the last player to do so 22 years ago.