Pegula keeps WTA Finals hopes alive with victory over Kostyuk

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Jessica Pegula recorded her first win at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells by beating ninth-seeded Marta Kostyuk 6–2, 7–5. Kostyuk was eliminated after two defeats, while fifth-seeded Pegula kept her hopes of progressing alive.

Pegula took control by winning the first nine points and broke Kostyuk twice in the opening set. Kostyuk twice recovered from a break down in the second set, but Pegula ultimately prevailed as her opponent made too many errors.

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Linda Nosková defeated Marta Kostyuk at the WTA Finals

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Linda Nosková began the WTA Finals in Indian Wells with a 6–2, 6–4 victory over Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk. The eighth-seeded Czech faced Kostyuk after the Ukrainian replaced the injured defending champion Jelena Rybakina. Nosková had also defeated Kostyuk in the Wimbledon semifinals earlier this year before winning that tournament. Nosková took control by breaking in the opening game and built a 4–1 lead with two breaks in the first set. Her crosscourt forehand again proved decisive, while Kostyuk’s forehand was reported to have been too inconsistent.

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Sabalenka opens WTA Finals with win over Muchová

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Aryna Sabalenka began the WTA Finals in Indian Wells with a 7-6 (2), 7-5 victory over debutant Karolína Muchová. Sabalenka, seeded second, was the highest-ranked player in the field following Jelena Rybakina’s withdrawal, while Muchová was seeded seventh. The opening set was decided in a tiebreak, as Sabalenka recovered from two breaks. Muchová twice broke back in the second set, including when Sabalenka served for the match at 5-4, but Sabalenka immediately regained her serve and won on her second match point after almost two hours.

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Elena Rybakina withdraws from Tokyo tournament

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World number one Elena Rybakina withdrew from the WTA tournament in Tokyo because of several minor injuries, a day after beating fellow Kazakh Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 6-3. She had been due to face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in the quarter-finals; Fernandez advanced to the semi-finals without playing. Rybakina told spectators in Tokyo that she could not give 100 percent and was looking ahead to the WTA Finals. She is certain to finish 2026 as world number one.

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Elena Rybakina withdraws from WTA Finals

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World number one Elena Rybakina withdrew from the WTA Finals before the season-ending tournament began in Indian Wells. The Kazakh player had been due to defend her title among the season’s top eight players. Marta Kostyuk replaced Rybakina in the field, according to one report. The tournament runs until 15 November.