Defending champion Coco Gauff kept her hopes alive of reaching the knockout stages of the WTA Finals with victory over Jasmine Paolini.Defeat by fellow American Jessica Pegula in her opening group match in Riyadh had put Gauff in trouble but she eased to a 6-3, 6-2 win against Paolini.The Italian has been struggling with illness and again was unable to show her best level physically, with Gauff overcoming a wobble midway through the first set.The third seed said: “I’m really happy with how I played today, definitely a turnaround from my first match.It’s the beauty of this tournament, you have another chance to prove yourself.

Hopefully I can do well in my next one to give myself a chance to stay in this tournament.”Paolini is eliminated having not won a set while Gauff is likely to need to beat world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka to give herself a chance of reaching the semi-finals.Sabalenka prevailed in a tough contest against Pegula to claim her second group match victory of the tournament.The Belarusian earned a straight sets win over Paolini in her opening game, but faced a tight battle against Pegula and eventually clinched a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 victory.Of her opponent, Sabelenka saluted “an incredible player.

She always pushed me to the limit...I was thinking, I’m gonna go after my shots, stay aggressive, put all of that speed back on her and hope that I get my chance.”The US Open champion grew frustrated as she made 13 unforced errors, nearly twice as many as Pegula, as the American got two breaks to build a 5-2 lead before saving two break points to secure the second set.

Sabalenka struggled with double faults as Pegula broke early in the third set,However, the world No 1 responded with returns near the sidelines to get two straight breaks, building a 4-2 lead that proved unassailable for Pegula,Sabalenka now has two wins in the Stefanie Graf Group and will face Gauff next, while Pegula comes up against Paolini,PA Media and ReutersJoin us tomorrow for live updates from the Serena Williams Group as Elena Rybakina takes on Madison Keys in a dead rubber before Iga Swiatek faces Amanda Anisimova,Thanks for reading along.

Sabalenka has not qualified yet for the semi-finals; she needed to beat Pegula in straight sets to do so.Her final match will be against Gauff and the two have not played since the 21-year-old beat the world No 1 in the French Open final.Pegula will face Paolini, who was struggling today, and will fancy her chances against the Italian.Pegula thinks one of Sabalenka’s serves is going out but the ball drops in.The world No 1 finds continues to hit strong forehands and her early wobble on serve seems to have disappeared.

A final forehand winner hands her the set and the match.That was the best match of the WTA Finals so far, with some excellent tennis from both players.Sabalenka 6-4, 2-6, 5-3 Pegula* (* denotes server): From this stage in their last meeting in Wuhan, Pegula won four games in a row and won the match in a tie-break … Repeat here? Sabalenka takes advantage of Pegula’s short second serve to hit a forehand.She finds a strong first serve to go 15-15 but then a wild backhand from the American goes well out.The American continues to find some strong first serves, including an ace, and forces the top seed to serve for the match.

*Sabalenka 6-4, 2-6, 5-2 Pegula (* denotes server): Another forehand winner from Sabalenka after a dubious serve earns her the first point of the game and from there her relentless hitting and power is just too much for the American.The world No 1 holds and forces Pegula to serve to stay in the match.Sabalenka 6-4, 2-6, 4-2 Pegula* (* denotes server): Sabalenka is attacking Pegula’s returns like her life depends on it.But Pegula brings back her excellent backhand volley – great control of the racket.But inevitably back comes Sabalenka to force break point which she can’t manage to keep in.

Another stunning winner from the world No 1 gives her another chance to break and from a break down, she is now in control of this set.*Sabalenka 6-4, 2-6, 3-2 Pegula (* denotes server): Sabalenka fires her sixth double fault of the match to start the game and then just clips the corner with an unbelievable backhand.Massive point to make it 15-15.Pegula responds with a crosscourt forehand.Tin Henman on comms says it is the best tennis of the week.

Sabalenka hits two more winners and she lets out a “Let’s go!” in between them that has the Riyadh crowd excited.She holds with a forehand winner into the corner to take the lead in this set.Sabalenka 6-4, 2-6, 2-2 Pegula* (* denotes server): Sabalenka hits a fantastic crosscourt forehand return and Pegula responds with a first serve ace.The next return from Sabalenka gooes long but she manages to get to deuce with another forehand that Pegula can only hit down into her side of the court.Pegula nets a forehand and at break point the American hits it wide.

A break each way,*Sabalenka 6-4, 2-6, 1-2 Pegula (* denotes server): Two double faults from Sabalenka and another unforced error sees her down 40-15,Pegula then nets a second serve at break point and she crouches down in disbelief,The American then connects the return at the next second serve but then fails to keep the following forehand in,A third double fault in the game hands Pegula the advantage but her wild return goes out.

Back to deuce … and a fourth double fault in the game, her fifth in the match,Another break point and Sabalenka hits a shot long,Pegula breaks after a scrappy game,Sabalenka 6-4, 2-6, 1-1 Pegula* (* denotes server): Sabalenka can’t quite curl in her forehand down the line after a strong Pegula volley and then fails to hit a backhand in,A Pegula double fault gives the world No 1 her first points of the game and we go to 30-30 after the American nets a backhand.

Sabalenka takes charge with a forehand down the line, generating a lot of power from behind the baseline.Another forehand, this one across the court, hands her the advantage but she nets the break point.Pegula grabs advantage after Sabalenka hits a shot well out and holds with a volley.*Sabalenka 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 Pegula (* denotes server): Pegula spent most of the break in conversation with her coach, Mark Knowles while Sabalenka decided to go off court.The world No 1 gets us going in this final set and goes up 30-0 after two long shots from Pegula.

The American then nets on the third point and hits another backhand return out.A scrappy game that Sabalenka holds to love.Sabalenka earns the first point of the game as she catches out her opponent with a massive forehand.The American then hits a shot long but follows it up with an instinctive crosscourt forehand winner.A double fault gives Sabalenka a 40-15 lead but Pegula finds a stunning volley to save the first break point.

Another forehand winner saves the second and a third gives her advantage.Sabalenka is not down and out yet, with her own forehand winner, but Pegula’s great placement earns her an ace and wild Sabalenka backhand gives the American the second set point.We go to a decider!*Sabalenka 6-4, 2-5 Pegula (* denotes server): The annoyance is clear from Pegula as she does the hard bit by returning the serve but then misses the earlier point as Sabalenka goes 30-15 up.Sabalenka then hits one wide and then nets another and Pegula has the chance to break and really rattle the top seed … and she doesn’t have to do much as Sabalenka double faults.The American will serve to level this match.

Sabalenka 6-4, 2-4 Pegula* (* denotes server): Sabalenka is reading Pegula’s serves better so the American has opted to move her opponent around, getting her on the slide as she goes 40-15 up,Sabalenka then nets as Pegula holds,*Sabalenka 6-4, 2-3 Pegula (* denotes server): Sabalenka manages to fight off Pegula’s defence this time before hitting a glorious ace to take it 40-15,Pegula then nets her backhand to give the world No 1 the hold,Sabalenka 6-4, 1-3 Pegula* (* denotes server): Sabalenka nets again and swings her racket again in annoyance.

But she gets her first point in 10 after Pegula hits a shot long.The American then nets and then fails to respond to Sabalenka’s crosscourt shot.Pegula plays a very awkward drop shot but then Sabalenka opts to volley it instead of waiting, and she nets it.We get to deuce and after some incredible recovery shots from Pegula, Sabalenka somehow nets another volley, where she had all the time in the world.The American takes advantage of Sabalenka’s loss of concentration to hold.

*Sabalenka 6-4, 1-2 Pegula (* denotes server): Sabalenka lightly swings her racket in anger after netting forehand off of Pegula’s return.She is clearly rattled as she swears loudly after a long shot.Pegula then breaks after a wild mishit from Sabalenka.That is two successive love games for Pegula, Sabalenka losing eight points in a row.Comeback on?Sabalenka 6-4, 1-1 Pegula* (* denotes server): Pegula goes 30-0 up off the back of Sabalenka’s mistakes and then hits two back-to-back aces.

*Sabalenka 6-4, 1-0 Pegula (* denotes server): Sabalenka storms to a 30-0 lead but Pegula punishes her short second serve with an easy winner.Sabalenka responds with an ace and then sees out a sharp game.Pegula misses three first serves in a row, allowing Sabalenka to show off her great ball striking.The world No 1 then nets her second set point and we are at deuce after a good second serve from Pegula.The American then follows it up with a quick forehand after a poor Sabalenka drop shot but the brute force of the world No 1 helps her see out the set.

Pegula smashes her racket against her bag as she goes to sit down.Think she probably knows she had chances to win the game.Sabrena gets in touch as to why we have picked on Gauff with “ailing” in the headline, especially given Keys was also ill in yesterday’s match.No picking on Gauff here, as I certainly gave her her flowers when she beat Paolini earlier.As for Keys, different writers work on different matches.

*Sabalenka 5-4 Pegula (* denotes server): Sabalenka misses two straight forehands but then follows it up with a serve that Pegula can barely get her racket on.The American nets the next return but at set point, after an incredible point with both players hitting volleys and lobs, the world No 1 hits her final forehand long.Pegula then grabs the advantage with a backhand crosscourt winner.The American breaks after Sabalenka goes wide.Sabalenka 5-3 Pegula* (* denotes server): Pegula;s second serve trips up Sabalenka in the opening point and she then mishits a return to give the American a 30-0 lead.

From there Pegula takes the game with relative ease,*Sabalenka 5-2 Pegula (* denotes server): Too good from Sabalenka,She is shortening the points and breezes to a hold to love after a perfect winner down the line that lands straight into the corner,Pegula hasn’t done a whole lot wrong but she is serving to stay in the set,Sabalenka 4-2 Pegula* (* denotes server): Strong opening points from Sabalenka as Pegula nets twice in a row.

Sabalenka then hits a backhand winner near the net but Pegula saves the first break point with a backhand right on the line,The world No 1 groans as she overhits her next point and then Pegula gets out of trouble and to deuce with another strong first serve,The American then hits one long and Sabalenka wins the fourth break point with an amazing angle on her forehand,Pegula’s first serve percentage is a whopping 89% but she is still down a break,Incredible.

*Sabalenka 3-2 Pegula (* denotes server): Sabalenka responds to her own perfect a game, winning every point.A couple more routine service holds after some tense openers.Quick turnaround.Sabalenka 2-2 Pegula* (* denotes server): Sabalenka is frustrated with herself as Pegula takes the game to love.Her serving has been fantastic so far, not giving Sabalenka a second to react and find the right shot to respond.

*Sabalenka 2-1 Pegula (* denotes server): No half measures from the world No 1 who does not hold back on the driving volley to win the first point.Pegula responds with a punchy backhand winner, using Sabalenka’s power to her advantage by redirecting the ball.From there, Sabalenka puts a smash away from the forecourt before hitting a forehand just out.At 30-30, Pegula hits a sliced backhand crosscourt winner but at breakpoint she hits her shot out.Sabalenka then takes advantage and Pegula cannot sort her return