Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek semi-final suspended as rain wreaks more havoc at WTA Finals after Pegula beats Gauff
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Updated 05/11/2023 at 17:18 GMT
Rain continues to disrupt the WTA Finals in Cancun. The latest downpour arrived during Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka's semi-final and forced the pair off court before the match was suspended until Sunday. Sabalenka will serve at 30-30 and trailing 2-1 in the first set when play resumes, with the winner to face Jessica Pegula in the final, which has been rescheduled for Monday at 4.30pm.
'It’s not comfortable' - Swiatek and Vondrousova join critics of playing conditions at WTA Finals
The highly anticipated WTA Finals last-four encounter between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek was suspended on Saturday with just three games played as rain continued to wreak havoc on the end-of-season showdown in Cancun.
It’s been a running theme of the event, with heavy downpours causing relentless delays and schedule changes, the latest of which forced the two highest-ranked female players off the court before organisers decided the match would not be resumed until Sunday.
Sabalenka, the world No. 1, was trailing 2-1 and serving at 30-30 when the rain arrived.
Earlier on Saturday, Jessica Pegula was able to complete a 6-1 6-2 dismantling of her fellow American Coco Gauff in the other semi-final. She awaits the winner in the final, which is now scheduled for Monday at 4.30pm and could have a significant advantage given the extra rest she’ll have had.
Pegula has been in supreme form this week, defying the conditions to progress with three straight wins before blasting past Gauff.
Gauff, who qualified second out of the Chetumal Group, was no match for the world No. 5 who hasn’t dropped a set en route to the final.
She lost all of her matches at this event in Fort Worth last year and has been delighted with how she’s “turned the tables” on that record.
“I managed to get my act together at the end of the year,” Pegula said. “I’ve done a good job of resetting coming here.
“It’s not fun leaving [Fort Worth] 0-6. I’m glad I’ve turned the tables. I found a way to make it work. I’m feeling confident going into the finals.”
Swiatek secured her passage into the semi-finals with three straight group-stage victories, while Sabalenka faced a winner-takes-all clash with Elena Rybakina to qualify.
The Belarusian eventually got over the line in a marathon match that lasted more than two hours and featured several rain delays.
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