Key events
Second set: Pegula 6-4, 1-3* Rybakina (*denotes next server) More pressure on Pegula’s serve, a couple of missed backhands leaving her 0-40 down. Rybakina has to make it pay – and does so with a fierce return that Pegula can only send back into the net.
Second set: Pegula 6-4, *1-2 Rybakina (*denotes next server) In a spot of bother at 30-all, Rybakina fires an ace down the line, and then holds on in the next rally. Approaching the hour mark in a very even contest.
Second set: Pegula 6-4, 1-1* Rybakina (*denotes next server) On the last point of the previous game, Pegula stretched in a failed effort to steer a backhand into court, and clutched her left shoulder afterwards.
Rybakina quickly moves 0-30 up, then curls a forehand into the corner for three break points. Pegula responds well, punching a forehand into the corner as she battles back to deuce. Mixing up her serves, she pounces on a short return and digs out an impressive hold.
Second set: Pegula 6-4, *0-1 Rybakina (*denotes next server) Rybakina hit nine winners to Pegula’s two in the first set – the problem was her unforced error count (25). She races to 40-0 here, then throws in back-to-back double faults before getting the job done.
Rybakina headed off court to gather her thoughts during the break between sets. She does have some strapping on her right shoulder, and looked a touch uncomfortable towards the end of that first set.
Pegula wins the first set 6-4
First set: Pegula 6-4* Rybakina (*denotes next server) A missed opportunity on Pegula’s second serve, as Rybakina sends her return beyond the baseline. She fights back, opening up the court to level at 30-all, but a precise ace down the middle brings up set point, and the job is done as Rybakina nets.
First set: Pegula *5-4 Rybakina (*denotes next server) A strident service game from Rybakina, crunching down her 25th ace of the week and only briefly held up by a Pegula return into the corner. Now over to Pegula, to try and serve out the first set.
First set: Pegula 5-3* Rybakina (*denotes next server) The highlight-reel shots in this set have all come from Rybakina, but Pegula is winning the tactical battle, using her better movement around the court to hold with a degree of comfort.
First set: Pegula *4-3 Rybakina (*denotes next server) Rybakina ends her poor run on serve, holding to 15. Pegula needs to see out another two service games to take this first set.
First set: Pegula 4-2* Rybakina (*denotes next server) Three breaks in a row now – can Pegula stop that run? A more solid run of first serves gets her to 40-0 but Rybakina fights back to deuce as a net cord bounces her way – then blasts a second-serve return down the line. But Pegula digs out the hold, extending the points and drawing mistakes from her opponent.
First set: Pegula *3-2 Rybakina (*denotes next server) Pegula is finding some joy by mixing up her return lengths, earning a break point that Rybakina digs in to save as her opponent nets a slice. A backhand return earns another break point, and she prevails in the next rally to break again!
First set: Pegula 2-2* Rybakina (*denotes next server) Rybakina had started the stronger but lost her way in that last service game. Can Pegula back up the break? An early double fault doesn’t help matters, and Rybakina outlasts her in a rally to earn break point. From the middle of the court, Rybakina lands an inside-out forehand on the line, and we’re back on serve.
Cam Norrie is playing in the Metz semi-finals; he’s trailing Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 0-1. In Athens, Novak Djokovic is facing Yannick Hanfmann; it’s on serve in their semi-final.
First set: Pegula *2-1 Rybakina (*denotes next server) Rybakina mishits a volley at the net on her way to 0-30 down, but keeps herself in the game with a lovely volley from down by her feet. Pegula hooks a return on to the line, though, and earns two break points. She takes the first as Rybakina balloons a forehand long.
First set: Pegula 1-1* Rybakina (*denotes next server) Rybakina has only dropped her serve twice this week, which is a sign of the form she’s in. She delivers two fizzing cross-court forehand winners in this game, but Pegula scraps her way through.
First set: Pegula *0-1 Rybakina (*denotes next server) A very solid opening service game from Rybakina, firing down three aces to hold.
Pegula v Rybakina is go
Both players are out on court warming up, and the match is just a few moments away.
The ATP Finals start on Sunday in Turin – the groups were set yesterday, but one place is still up for grabs. Felix Auger-Aliassime is currently the eighth seed, but if Lorenzo Musetti can win the title in Athens, the Italian will take his spot. Musetti plays Sebastian Korda in the Athens semi-finals later today.
Jimmy Connors Group
Carlos Alcaraz
Novak Djokovic
Taylor Fritz
Alex de Minaur
Bjorn Borg Group
Jannik Sinner
Alexander Zverev
Ben Shelton
Lorenzo Musetti or Felix Auger-Aliassime
That means our first semi-final match should get under way on time at 3pm (GMT). In the mean time, have you signed up for our weekly newsletters? No? It only takes a click.
The first doubles semi-final has just finished, with Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani defeating Hsieh Su-wei and Jelena Ostapenko 6-4, 6-6 (7-5).
Babos and Stefani, the No 7 seeds, will face the winners of Friday’s later second semi-final: Katerina Siniakova & Taylor Townsend v Elise Mertens & Veronika Kudermetova.
Preamble
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.
