Noskova beats Gauff to reach WTA Finals semi-finals

Linda Noskova beat Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-3 to become the first player through to the semi-finals of the WTA Finals, while Jessica Pegula kept her own hopes alive by defeating alternate Marta Kostyuk.

Noskova, the Wimbledon champion, broke Gauff’s serve four times in the first set and sealed her win with an ace. It was the Czech’s tournament debut and her sixth victory over a top-10 opponent this season.

Gauff struggled behind her second serve, winning only six of 24 points on it. She still has a chance to reach the last four, as does Pegula, who earlier beat Kostyuk 6-2, 7-5 for her first win since September.

Kostyuk entered the tournament as a replacement for Elena Rybakina, who withdrew. The Ukrainian, who has been managing a wrist injury since August, lost both of her group matches.