Aryna Sabalenka defeated Coco Gauff at WTA Finals Riyadh 2025 in a quarterfinal clash, stamping her authority as world No.1 with a 7-6(5), 6-2 win that ended the American’s tournament dreams. The Belarusian star’s blend of raw power and ice-cold composure lit up the King Saud University Indoor Arena on Thursday night.
Aryna Sabalenka overpowers Coco Gauff in epic clash
From the opening exchanges, it was clear this showdown would deliver fireworks. Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old sensation, grabbed an early break-even serving for the first set at 5-4. But Sabalenka refused to blink.
However, a drop shot from Gauff backfired spectacularly, allowing Sabalenka to unleash a forehand winner. The tiebreak turned into a rollercoaster, Gauff surged to 3-1, forcing Sabalenka to vent frustration by tossing her racquet. Yet, the top seed flipped the script with pinpoint serves and ruthless aggression.
Double faults continued to haunt Gauff (six in total), including a crucial one that gifted Sabalenka a 6-4 lead. She pounced, sealing the set with a flawless plus-one forehand.
The second set saw Sabalenka shift into overdrive. She converted five of six break points while Gauff managed only three from seven. Breaking back instantly after a rare lapse, Sabalenka closed it out convincingly, improving to 3-0 in round-robin play.
Coco Gauff’s heartbreaking early exit: Eliminated before the match even started
In a stunning twist, Coco Gauff was already knocked out before hitting a ball against Aryna Sabalenka. Jessica Pegula’s earlier 6-2, 6-3 rout of Jasmine Paolini created unbreakable tiebreakers.
WTA rules prioritize matches won, head-to-head, sets percentage, then games. With Pegula reaching 2-1, Gauff’s losses to both her and Sabalenka, plus poorer metrics from double-fault-plagued games, meant no scenario kept her alive. Even a straight-sets upset wouldn’t suffice.
Semifinals preview: Aryna Sabalenka eyes first WTA finals crown
Friday’s semifinals promise more drama:
Aryna Sabalenka (3-0) vs Amanda Anisimova (2-1)
Jessica Pegula (2-1) vs Elena Rybakina (3-0)
In her fifth consecutive WTA Finals, Sabalenka will aim for that maiden title after falling short as runner-up to Caroline Garcia in 2022. Her Riyadh rampage has revamped her mental strength since losing the Roland Garros final to Gauff.
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