Sabalenka edges Pegula in three sets for second straight win at WTA Finals

RIYADH, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Top seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus held off a strong fightback from fifth seed Jessica Pegula of the United States to secure a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 victory at the WTA Finals group stage here on Tuesday, marking her second consecutive win and giving her the lead in the Steffi Graf group.

Sabalenka and Pegula had last faced each other in October's Wuhan Open, where Pegula came from behind in the semifinals to end Sabalenka's 20-match winning streak at the tournament.

In their latest meeting, both players traded heavy groundstrokes early, with the first three games going to deuce before each held serve. Sabalenka earned the first break for a 5-2 lead. Pegula saved a set point and cut the deficit to 4-5, but Sabalenka broke again to take the set 6-4.

Pegula raised her level in the second set, breaking twice and saving all four break points she faced to win it 6-2.

The American broke first in the decider to lead 2-1, but the world No. 1 responded with four straight games and sealed the victory 6-3.

"She always pushes me to the limit," Sabalenka said afterwards. "In the second set, I felt like she stepped in and played incredible tennis. In the third set, I was thinking, 'OK, I'm going to go after my shots, I'm going to stay even more aggressive and put all that speed back on her and hope I'll get my chance.'"

In another singles match of the day, defending champion Coco Gauff of the United States defeated Italy's Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2. ■