INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Linda Noskova became the first player to qualify for the semifinal round of the 2026 WTA Finals, defeating Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-3 in 1 hour and 15 minutes on Tuesday.
“Coco’s a big competitor, so I was ready for everything to come my way today,” said Noskova, the No. 8 seed. “I feel like I held myself through a lot of tough situations.”
Noskova Secures Advancement
Noskova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, posted a straight-sets victory to guarantee her advancement out of round-robin play. The remaining Group 1 berth will come down to Gauff or Jessica Pegula, who eliminated Marta Kostyuk from contention earlier on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old Noskova is making her WTA Finals debut after winning her first Grand Slam title in July. She followed up her Sunday win over Kostyuk with a strong performance against Gauff, who narrowly defeated Pegula in her first round-robin match.
Gauff Falls Behind Early
The 22-year-old Gauff became the youngest woman to make five consecutive WTA Finals since Martina Hingis (1996-2000). On Tuesday, however, she fell behind by a double break in the first set and could not keep pace with Noskova’s consistent play.
Noskova won five games in a row to take the first set and build a 3-0 lead in the second. She closed out the match with her ninth ace on match point.
Pegula and Kostyuk Still in Play
Pegula, who finished runner-up at the WTA Finals in 2023, kept her hopes of a semifinal return alive by defeating Kostyuk. It was a meaningful win, as Pegula had lost twice to the Ukrainian this season. Kostyuk entered the field as a late alternate after World No. 1 Elena Rybakina withdrew due to a viral illness.
Although Kostyuk has no chance to advance to the semifinals, she will face Gauff on Thursday. The match gives Kostyuk the opportunity to avoid finishing round-robin play with an 0-3 record and to earn an additional $230,000 in prize money. The final Group 1 standings will be determined by Thursday’s results.