Pegula saves a match point and reaches the WTA Finals semis
· BehindLines newsroom
Jessica Pegula booked her place in the WTA Finals semi-finals on Thursday 12 November 2026 in Indian Wells (California) by beating Linda Noskova 7-6, 4-6, 7-5 (7-2 in the first-set tie-break), according to ESPN and BBC Sport. The result eliminates Coco Gauff.
A deciding third set
In Group 1, Noskova, the Wimbledon champion, had already secured a semi-final spot; she and Pegula each had two wins and one loss in the group, ESPN reports. In the third set the Czech player, who had taken a break of serve earlier according to the BBC, was ahead 5-4 and had a match point against Pegula's delivery. The American brushed it aside, levelled at 5-5 with an ace, broke Noskova's serve in the following game, then finished on her first match point, when the ball clipped the net tape and dropped on Noskova's side, ESPN specifies.
Pegula hit 16 aces, a career best according to ESPN and her highest total in a WTA Tour match according to the BBC. She says she varied her serves (kick, hard, flat) to keep her opponent guessing. Noskova made 15 double faults to go with 9 aces, the BBC notes. ESPN adds that each of their five career meetings has needed three sets.
The players' words
Pegula said that even with 16 aces, the match shows how good Noskova is, since she barely managed to win, ESPN reports. The Czech player said it was a fight to the end, as she had expected, that she was glad to have found her rhythm and that she hoped to do better still next time.
Gauff out despite her comeback
Earlier on Thursday, Gauff beat Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 7-5, according to ESPN and the BBC. Down 5-1 in the second set, she won the last six games. The BBC says she received treatment on her lower back during the match; ESPN mentions a trainer coming on court to massage her back. Kostyuk, who came into the tournament as the first alternate after Elena Rybakina withdrew, has had a sore wrist since August, the BBC specifies. Gauff's win was not enough: Pegula's victory denies her a place in the semi-finals, and ESPN says it was her last match of the year.
The semi-finals
According to the BBC, Pegula will face Roland-Garros champion Mirra Andreeva, a first meeting between the two. Noskova will play on Saturday against Elina Svitolina or Aryna Sabalenka.
Why it matters
With this win Pegula, runner-up at the event in 2023, joins Noskova in the semi-finals at the expense of Gauff, who won the tournament in 2024, the BBC recalls.