Pegula wins thriller at WTA Finals, Gauff eliminated

"I've learned ​that sometimes the serve feels good and sometimes it doesn't, and how to manage the days ⁠when it doesn't and to ride it when you are serving well," Pegula. "I don't think I served that ​well in my first couple matches and I served great today.

Sometimes there's no rhyme or reason. "In the end, Noskova, ​Gauff and Pegula all finished 2-1 in the group while alternate Marta Kostyuk went 0-3. Noskova went 5-2 in sets to win the group, followed by Pegula at 5-3 and Gauff at 4-3.

The win sets up a first meeting between Pegula and Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva in the semi-finals ​on Saturday. "It's the match people wanted, well now you are going to get it," said Pegula.

She had earlier called Andreeva "a diva" ​who "needs to be humbled," but didn't realise that her remarks were being livestreamed during a practice session before the tournament. In the same ‌comments ⁠Pegula also praised the world number three, and she apologised afterward to those involved.

"She's fast, she has a great serve, she's strong, she hits the ball pretty hard and she's smart," Pegula said on Thursday. "I'm going to do my best. "GAUFF RALLIES PAST KOSTYUKEarlier, Gauff rallied to beat Kostyuk 6-4 7-5 on a sun-soaked Stadium Two.

After sealing the first set with a stab volley ​that sent fans leaping to ​their feet under sunny ⁠California desert skies, Gauff rallied from 1-5 down in the second, winning six games in a row. "I was fully prepared to play a third set there," said Gauff, who needed treatment ​on her back during the second set.

"It's the last tournament of the season so I ​just wanted to ⁠finish it on a high note and give myself the best chance to play the semifinals. Either way, I didn't want to be sad walking off the court.

"Kostyuk, who won the Madrid title and reached the French Open semi-finals, was already eliminated coming ⁠into her ​match against Gauff having lost to Noskova and Pegula.

Kostyuk, who joined the ​eight-player tournament as an alternate after world number one Elena Rybakina withdrew due to illness, failed to win a set in her three matches as she ​struggled with a wrist injury.