WTA Finals tennis: Jessica Pegula v Elena Rybakina in semi-finals – live | WTA Finals

There will be a new name on the WTA Finals trophy this year: none of the four players still standing have won this title before. The favourite, world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, lost her only final appearance, to Caroline Garcia in 2022. She faces Amanda Anisimova in the second semi-final, which promises to be a power-hitting masterclass.

Before that, surprise front-runner Elena Rybakina takes on Jessica Pegula for a place in the final. Having dipped out of the world’s top 10 in the summer, Rybakina rediscovered her form in the year’s Asian swing and has defied a poor prior record in this event, winning all three round-robin games to qualify for her first semi-final spot.

As for Pegula, she reached the final in 2023, only to lose 6-1, 6-0 to Iga Swiatek. Despite losing a tight contest against Sabalenka, she made it through to the last four by beating Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini. The American starts as underdog today but has a 3-1 advantage in the two players’ head-to-head record.