Riyadh, 8 November (H.S.): Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina executed a remarkable turnaround to defeat Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Friday, earning her place in the championship match of the WTA Finals. Rybakina will now face either world number one Aryna Sabalenka or American Amanda Anisimova in the final.

The second semifinal, held at the King Saud University Sports Arena, will see Sabalenka and Anisimova face off in a rematch of September's US Open final, where the Belarusian claimed her fourth Grand Slam title with a straight-sets victory.

In Friday's match, both players exchanged early breaks of serve before Pegula found her rhythm, establishing a 4-2 lead. Rybakina appeared to be hampered by a shoulder injury sustained during her warm-up, which affected her precision throughout the opening set.

Pegula capitalized on her opponent's struggles, clinching the first set 6-4 after Rybakina committed her 25th unforced error. However, Rybakina mounted a spirited comeback in the second set, taking an early lead. Though Pegula attempted to fight back, Rybakina delivered a commanding performance in the tenth game to win the set 6-4 and force a decider.

The final set saw both competitors trade breaks once again, but the pivotal moment came in the eighth game when a forehand from Pegula found the net, giving Rybakina a crucial advantage. The Kazakh held her nerve to serve out the next game and seal the victory.

With this win, Rybakina remains undefeated in the tournament and is now just one victory away from capturing her first career season-ending championship title.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar