Aryna Sabalenka Steamrolls Coco Gauff At WTA Finals

When the chips are down and the pressure’s cranked up to eleven, there’s one player who seems to thrive in the chaos: Aryna Sabalenka. The Belarusian powerhouse proved yet again why she’s the world’s best, dispatching Coco Gauff 7-6(5), 6-2 at the WTA Finals in Riyadh to lock down the top seed and punch her ticket to the semifinals.

Sabalenka’s Clutch Gene Kicks In

Gauff had Sabalenka on the ropes early. The 21-year-old American broke serve to open the match and was serving for the first set at 5-4. Most players would’ve crumbled under that kind of pressure. But Sabalenka? She just shrugged, cranked up the power, and clawed her way back like she was ordering takeout.

Down 4-2 in the first-set tiebreak, things looked grim. Gauff was one or two points away from stealing the set and potentially changing the entire trajectory of the match. But this is where champions separate themselves from the pack. Sabalenka unleashed two absolute missiles on serve, flipped the script to 5-4, and then watched as Gauff, plagued by her ongoing double-fault demons, handed her the set on a silver platter.

The Second Set Wasn’t Even Close

After surviving that first-set thriller, Sabalenka wasn’t about to let this one get interesting again. She steamrolled through the second set with the kind of ruthless efficiency that would make a CEO proud. Sure, Gauff managed to snag a break in the sixth game, but Sabalenka broke right back and sealed the deal at love.

Five breaks converted out of six chances. Ice-cold serving when it mattered. This was Sabalenka at her absolute best, and honestly, it was beautiful to watch if you’re a fan of pure, unbridled power tennis.

What This Means For the Semifinals

Sabalenka now moves on to face No. 4 seed Amanda Anisimova on Friday, while Jessica Pegula will square off against Elena Rybakina in the other semifinal matchup. For Sabalenka, this is her fifth consecutive appearance at the year-end championships, but she’s still searching for that elusive WTA Finals title. Her best finish? Runner-up to Caroline Garcia three years ago.

When asked before the tournament about her tough losses earlier this year, falling to Madison Keys at the Australian Open and to Gauff herself at Roland Garros, Sabalenka gave the most Sabalenka answer imaginable: “I don’t look back.”

Gauff’s Double-Fault Nightmare Continues

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Gauff’s serve. She came into this match with three double faults against Sabalenka, which isn’t terrible. But when you consider she racked up 17 in her opening match of the tournament, it’s clear this is a problem that keeps rearing its ugly head at the worst possible times.

That double fault in the first-set tiebreak, giving Sabalenka a 6-4 lead, was the dagger. In a match this tight, you can’t afford to give away free points, especially not against someone who already hits the ball harder than a meteor strike.

Gauff’s got all the talent in the world. She’s shown she can beat the best on her day (hello, French Open final comeback). But until she sorts out the serve, these kinds of losses are going to keep happening.

The Bottom Line

Sabalenka is clicking at the right time, and that should terrify everyone left in this draw. She’s serving bombs, dictating rallies, and most importantly, she’s keeping her cool when things get tight. That’s the mark of a true champion.

As for Gauff? She’ll be back. She’s only 21, and she’s already proven she belongs in these big moments. But right now, this tournament belongs to the Belarusian. If she keeps playing like this, that elusive WTA Finals title might finally be within reach.