CANCUN, Mexico — Prime-ranked Aryna Sabalenka reached the semifinals for the second consecutive yr on the WTA Finals, holding on to defeat Elena Rybakina 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 on Friday in a round-robin match that was repeatedly interrupted by rain the evening earlier than till being suspended late within the second set.
Play was halted Thursday evening with Rybakina about to attempt to pressure a 3rd set by serving for the second at 5-3. Once they resumed, she did simply that. However Sabalenka got here by within the decider – though not and not using a little bit of rigidity within the final recreation: She wanted to save lots of 5 break factors, after which required 4 match factors to finish it.
This was a rematch of the Australian Open ultimate in January, additionally received by Sabalenka.
Sabalenka went 2-1 in round-robin play on the season-ending championship and superior because the second-place finisher in her group. Jessica Pegula, who beat Maria Sakkari on Thursday to go 3-0, completed atop their group.
Rybakina was eradicated with Friday’s loss.
There have been a half-dozen rain delays throughout Thursday’s stop-start-stop motion.
The 2 semifinalists from the opposite singles group have been scheduled for later Friday, with U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff taking up Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, and four-time main champ Iga Swiatek assembly three-time Slam runner-up Ons Jabeur.
