(Reuters) – American Jessica Pegula emerged victorious in Group A at the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, with a 7-5 6-2 win over Elena Rybakina. Pegula dominated the match by winning 10 of the last 12 games.
Rybakina had a strong start and seemed on track to win the first set, leading 5-3. However, Pegula raised her game and broke Rybakina’s serve, eventually winning four straight games to clinch the set.
Pegula’s clean and powerful shots overwhelmed her opponent, who made a total of 35 unforced errors throughout the match. “I was able to take advantage of her careless errors and ride that momentum throughout the second set,” Pegula commented after the win.
Pegula, seeded fifth, will next face Maria Sakkari of Greece, the eighth seed, in her upcoming match on Tuesday. Meanwhile, top seed Aryna Sabalenka was facing Sakkari in Sunday’s Group A night match.
The WTA Finals, taking place from October 29 to November 5, features the world’s top eight singles players and doubles teams.
The tournament is being reported by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles and edited by Michael Perry.
