The sixth-seeded American Jessica Pegula has withdrawn from the WTA Finals in Riyadh with a left knee injury. Pegula lost her opening two matches in Saudi Arabia in straight sets. The 2023 WTA Finals runner-up had no chance of advancing to the semifinals. The US Open finalist was due to face defending champion Iga Swiatek on the last day of the round-robin group stage. Pegula has been replaced by Daria Kasatkina on the schedule.
Early Season End For Jessica Pegula
Jessica Pegula admitted that her injury had made her uncomfortable right before her first match – where she lost to Coco Gauff in straight sets. She dropped out of contention to win the WTA Finals after she lost to Barbora Krejcikova, also in straight sets. Her place will be replaced by Daria Kasatkina to face the top-ranked Iga Swiatek in the last match of the group stage.
Swiatek must win the match to stay in the hunt for a spot in the WTA Finals semifinals. The Pole will look to rebound from her 6-3, 6-4 loss to Coco Gauff. She also needs the already-qualified American to beat Krejcikova to claim her spot in the last four. That would mark her third consecutive appearance in the semifinals, where she would meet the World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
After the hard struggle in Riyadh, Jessica Pegula seems not to be playing again before the end of this year. She had already announced her withdrawal from next week’s Billie Jean King Cup. This decision came after her recent struggles on the court. She will be hoping to return in early 2025 ahead of the Australian Open.
Remembering How Jessica Pegula Qualified For the WTA Finals
Jessica Pegula seemed to have no chance of making it into the WTA Finals after a tough grass court season. She only claimed a title in Berlin. The 30-year-old suffered early losses in Eastbourne and Wimbledon. She lost in the second round in both events. Pegula lost in the second round of the Australian Open and had to pull out of the French Open due to back and neck injuries.
However, she bounced back in the second half of the season with titles in Toronto, reached the final in Cincinnati, and made her first Grand Slam final at the US Open. But, she struggled again after her shining performance afterwards. In Riyadh, Jessica Pegula finished the tournament with a disappointing 0-2 record.
Out, Back to Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff still carries the American hope at the WTA Finals. If she manages to claim the top spot of the group, Gauff will have a chance to face the Chinese rising star Qinwen Zheng. She cemented her place in the semifinals after beating Jasmine Paolini 6-1, 6-1 in just an hour and seven minutes. The 22-year-old Zheng became the second Chinese woman since Li Na to qualify for the semifinals of the WTA Finals. Also, Zheng became the youngest player in her WTA Finals debut to qualify for the semi finals since Petra Kvitova in 2011.
Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka fell to Elena Rybakina 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. Sabalenka hasn’t been eliminated from the competition yet as she already clinched her group. Rybakina is the first player to defeat Sabalenka since the three-time Grand Slam winner displaced Iga Swiatek at the top of the WTA Rankings last week. Sabalenka had only lost one match since early August before this. She will be waiting for Swiatek or Krejcikova in the next round.
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