11/12/2026 04:59:00
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11/12 16:58 CST Coco Gauff storms back from 5-1 down to beat Marta Kostyuk at
the WTA Finals
Coco Gauff storms back from 5-1 down to beat Marta Kostyuk at the WTA Finals
By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) --- Coco Gauff rallied to win the final six games of
the match and beat Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 7-5 in her round-robin group at the WTA
Finals on Thursday.
Then came more suspense.
Gauff's eventual fate depended on the outcome of fellow American Jessica
Pegula's match against Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova later. A victory by
Pegula would knock Gauff, her former doubles partner, out and advance Pegula to
the semifinals of the season-ending championships. Gauff beat Pegula in three
sets in their opening Group 1 match.
Noskova had already advanced to the semifinals at the $10 million event in the
Southern California desert, which was moved from Saudi Arabia because of the
Iran war in the Middle East.
Gauff overcame serving issues and visits from a trainer during the match.
Kostyuk raced to a 4-0 lead in in the second set, fighting off four break
points to hold in the second game. Twice, Gauff double-faulted away games. She
requested a trainer early in the set to work on her as she lay on her side
while Kostyuk walked over to sit on the advertising board and chat with her
team.
Kostyuk led 5-1 before Gauff's comeback began. She overcame three break points
and hit a crosscourt forehand winner to trail 5-2. Gauff broke twice to tie the
set at 5-5. Gauff held for a 6-5 lead and won the match on Kostyuk's netted
forehand.
Gauff led 5-2 in the first set before Kostyuk broke to close to 5-4. Gauff
broke back in the next game with a gutsy crosscourt backhand volley winner to
take the set.
Kostyuk got into the Finals as the first alternate after top-ranked Elena
Rybakina withdrew because of a viral illness. The 24-year-old Ukrainian went
0-3 in Group 1 play.
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