By
SABC Sport
11th November 2026
Noskova's victory over Gauff secured her qualification for the semi-finals after she downed Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-4 in her opening match.
Gauff defeated Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2 in her first match, and she could miss out on progressing from the group even if she wins her final round-robin match against Kostyuk.
Pegula beat Kostyuk 6-2, 7-5 on Tuesday, and if the 32-year-old American overcomes Noskova in her third match, she will join the Czech in the last four - and Gauff will be eliminated regardless of her result against Kostyuk.
World No. 10 Kostyuk cannot advance to the semi-final stage after her two straight-set losses. The 24-year-old Ukrainian was the first alternate at the WTA Finals, and she replaced world No 1 and reigning champion Elena Rybakina - who withdrew due to illness.
Gauff holds a 4-2 head-to-head record against Kostyuk, while Noskova has a 3-1 edge from her previous meetings with Pegula.
In a post-match interview with reporters, Gauff was asked if she will think about the qualification scenarios ahead of her third match.
"I'm just gonna focus on the next match," the 22-year-old American replied. "The scenarios - I mean, I know they make sense, but they're kinda stupid [laughs].
"I mean, I know it's like the point thing, and the sets and all of that, but it's like, I'm just trying to win a match.
"If I win my match and I still don't qualify, I'm like, 'It's okay, it's cool.' Yeah, actually, next year, I'm looking forward to next year. I can't say much, but everybody knows it has to change."
World No. 4 Gauff is aiming to win her second WTA Finals title, having triumphed at the prestigious season-ending event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2024. She is making her fifth consecutive WTA Finals appearance.
