In a rain-shortened group match on Friday, world number one Aryna Sabalenka beat Elena Rybakina 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to go to the WTA Finals semifinals.
The Belarussian, who came in second in her group behind the undefeated American Jessica Pegula, maintained her momentum for the top spot at the conclusion of the year with a win that
required two days to finish.
Play stopped Thursday night after many weather delays; she had won the first set but was down in the second.
After around sixteen hours, she and Rybakina went back to the Cancun outdoor hardcourts, where Kazakhstan’s fourth-ranked Rybakina easily won the second set and quickly even the score.
In the first game of the third set, Australian Open winner Sabalenka fought back to maintain service after Rybakina faced two break chances and nine deuces.
In the fourth game, she broke Rybakina with two fierce forehands.
Sabalenka will undoubtedly end the year ranked #1 if she prevails in her semi-final match on Saturday.
Iga Swiatek of Poland, who dominated the standings for 75 weeks until falling from the top following the US Open, will take her place if she loses.
After defeating Ons Jabeur of Tunisia 2-0 in her group round match, Swiatek was guaranteed a spot in the semifinals.
If Jabeur prevails, Swiatek advances as the runner-up and the Tunisian wins the group.
With a Swiatek victory against Jabeur, US Open champion Gauff, who finished group play with a 5-7, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 victory over Marketa Vondrousova, the winner of Wimbledon, might still progress.
In blustery circumstances, Vondrousova led 3-0 after winning 12 of the first 13 points and breaking twice. Gauff responded to tie the game at 3 points.
Rain stopped the match after they swapped breaks in the following four games, finishing at 5-5. Upon their return, Gauff gave up a break due to a double fault, and her Czech opponent won the first set with an overhead smash.
Gauff cruised to a 4-1 advantage in the second set after breaking to open. To get to the tiebreaker, Vondrousova fought back to a 5-5 score and they traded breaks.
In the tiebreaker, Gauff’s aggressive strategy paid off, and she carried it over into the third set, breaking Vondrousova at love to take a 3-2 lead and winning easily.