Keystone
World number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered her first defeat ever in the semi-finals in Wuhan. The Belarusian lost to the American Jessica Pegula 6:2, 4:6, 6:7 (2:7).
Sabalenka won 20 matches and three tournaments (2018, 2019 and 2024) in Wuhan, China, before Pegula stopped the run. The New Yorker showed a remarkable third set in which she made up for a 2:5 deficit and brutally missed the early decision with four double faults in that game when the score was 6:5. But she clearly dominated the tiebreak.
In the final of the WTA 1000 tournament on Sunday, world number six Pegula will face her three positions better ranked compatriot Coco Gauff, who beat the Italian Jasmine Paolini 6:4, 6:3.
