Pegula beats No. 1 Sabalenka, makes semi

(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

CANCUN, Mexico (AP) As match point after match point came and went - there were six in all she didn't convert - Jessica Pegula made sure she stayed calm and didn't, as she put it, “freak out” against No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka at the WTA Finals on Tuesday.

When her seventh chance to end things arrived, Pegula finally was able to complete a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Sabalenka in round-robin action at the season-ending championship for the top eight players in women's tennis.

“We all, as tennis players, have experienced that to some extent - on both sides. So, I mean, I try to use my match experience as best I can," said Pegula, a 29-year-old American who is now guaranteed to finish atop her group and reach the semifinals in Cancun. "Every match, you’re always going to feel different. But I think the more you put yourself in those situations, the better you feel when they come up again. It doesn’t feel like you have to panic as much."

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2023 ATP Rankings
Rank Player Points
1 N. Djokovic 11,245
2 C. Alcaraz 8,855
3 D. Medvedev 7,600
4 J. Sinner 6,490
5 A. Rublev 4,805
6 S. Tsitsipas 4,235
7 A. Zverev 3,985
8 H. Rune 3,660
9 H. Hurkacz 3,245
10 T. Fritz 3,100
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2023 WTA Rankings
Rank Player Points
1 I. Swiatek 9,295
2 A. Sabalenka 9,050
3 C. Gauff 6,580
4 E. Rybakina 6,365
5 J. Pegula 5,975
6 O. Jabeur 4,195
7 M. Vondrousova 4,075
8 K. Muchova 3,651
9 M. Sakkari 3,620
10 B. Krejcikova 2,880
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