WTA Finals: Pegula downs Rybakina in opening match

Jessica Pegula has defeated Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-2 to go top of the Bacalar Group at the WTA Finals in Cancun on Sunday evening

Zuma / Panoramic

Bren Gray

October 30, 2023

American Jessica Pegula has defeated world No 4 Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-2 in the opening match of the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, on Sunday evening.

The win is Pegula’s fourth in a row over top 10 opponents, and sees the world No 5 go top of the Bacalar Group after one match has been played, putting Pegula in an excellent position to qualify for the semi-finals this year after she failed to win a single match at the 2022 WTA Finals.

It was a clash that began as an arm-wrestle, before Pegula wrested control from Rybakina and ran away with the match to win in one hour, 23 minutes.

Pegula withstands tough start before finding another level

Despite losing in straight sets, it was Rybakina who started the strongest in this opening match of the WTA Finals.

The Kazakh broke Pegula early, racing out to a 5-3 lead and looking as though she was going to draw first blood in this top five encounter. However, just when she needed to, Pegula found another level, racing through four consecutive games to claim the first set 7-5.

Pegula had the better of the first serve battle, winning 88 percent of points behind the first serve, compared to Rybakina’s 55 percent. The deciding factor was the racquet of Rybakina, however, which sprayed 24 unforced errors for just seven winners in the opening set.

Jessica Pegula with a strong opening performance in Cancun 💪

The American takes down Elena Rybakina and moves to 1-0 in the Bacalar Group. #WTAFinals pic.twitter.com/jo05jNBMrK
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) October 29, 2023

The American continued her strong form in the second set, running out to a 4-1 lead thanks to a double break of Rybakina’s serve.

Rybakina was able to claw back one break after a monumental game at 4-1, but the comeback was to be short lived, as Pegula went on to claim a third break of the set before holding her own serve for a 7-5, 6-2 win.

Both women will have a day off tomorrow, as the Chetumal Group play their opening matches. When they return on day three, Rybakina will be needing a win to stay alive, while Pegula will have an opportunity to qualify for the semi-finals.