Pegula Compares Gauff and Kostyuk After WTA Finals Results
Jessica Pegula has secured one victory and suffered one defeat in her initial two contests at the 2026 WTA Finals.
Following a three-set loss to Coco Gauff, Pegula rebounded by defeating Marta Kostyuk in straight sets. This result preserved her chances of reaching the semi-finals, yet questions remain regarding her assessment of the opening matches played in Indian Wells.
In comments to Sky Sports after her victory over Kostyuk, Pegula evaluated her first two performances at the WTA Finals and offered a ‘weird’ comparison between Gauff and Kostyuk, having faced both players.
Jessica Pegula states that Coco Gauff and Marta Kostyuk play ‘similar’ against her.
“I feel like, in a weird way, they do play a little bit similar, at least when they play me. I just think, Coco [Gauff] plays a little bit further back; maybe Marta [Kostyuk] will look to be more aggressive,” said Pegula.
“So I think today, I actually tried to be just a bit more patient. I felt like against Coco, I maybe pressed a little too hard sometimes, but that’s like, what she’s so good at making you do. I felt like today, I didn’t want that to happen, so I was a little bit more patient, and I thought I served better.”
Jessica Pegula vs Coco Gauff – Match statistics
- Coco Gauff defeated Jessica Pegula, 6-4, 6-7, 6-2
| Stats | Jessica Pegula | Coco Gauff |
| Aces | 5 | 4 |
| Double faults | 6 | 5 |
| 1st Serve % | 56% | 52% |
| 1st Serve win % | 60% | 67% |
| 2nd Serve win % | 42% | 50% |
| Break points | 4/11 | 7/16 |
| Winners | 30 | 24 |
| Unforced errors | 55 | 41 |
| Total points won | 106 | 119 |
Jessica Pegula vs Coco Gauff – Match statistics
Jessica Pegula vs Marta Kostyuk – Match statistics
- Jessica Pegula defeated Marta Kostyuk, 6-2, 7-5
| Stats | Jessica Pegula | Marta Kostyuk |
| Aces | 1 | 5 |
| Double faults | 2 | 9 |
| 1st Serve % | 60% | 53% |
| 1st Serve win % | 76% | 67% |
| 2nd Serve win % | 44% | 31% |
| Break points | 5/11 | 2/3 |
| Winners | 7 | 22 |
| Unforced errors | 16 | 47 |
| Total points won | 73 | 57 |
Jessica Pegula vs Marta Kostyuk – Match statistics
Pegula was subsequently questioned on how she managed to secure the match in straight sets, considering the pressure Kostyuk exerted during the second set of their WTA Finals group-stage tie.
“I was up like 1-0, 30-0, and she hit a couple of good shots, I didn’t make any first serves. I was so mad at myself, but at the same time, I’m like, ok, whatever, it doesn’t matter, you have to put it to the back of your mind,” she said.
“I was just trying to hold onto my service games and then just dig in on the return games as much as I could. I just kept telling myself, sets are important in this tournament; you cannot give her a set, do not give her a set. When I was down 4-5, serving 0-15, I was like, ‘Not giving away this set; we’re not doing this’. Honestly, it was just a lot of pep talk.”
Pegula understood the significance of a straight-sets victory for her qualification prospects. Meanwhile, Gauff commented on the WTA Finals format after her loss to Noskova, but the question remains regarding who requires what to reach the semi-finals as the final round approaches.
What are the conditions for Jessica Pegula to qualify for the WTA Finals semi-finals?
The top two players from each group advance to the WTA Finals semi-finals. Although Pegula holds a superior set and game win percentage compared to Gauff, she currently trails in their head-to-head tie and occupies third place.
2026 WTA Finals – Group 1
| Standings | Player | Matches (W/L) | Sets (W/L) | Games (W/L) |
| 1 | Linda Noskova | 2-0 | 4-0 (100%) | 24-12 (67%) |
| 2 | Coco Gauff | 1-1 | 2-3 (40%) | 24-25 (49%) |
| 3 | Jessica Pegula | 1-1 | 3-2 (60%) | 26-25 (51%) |
| 4 | Marta Kostyuk | 0-2 | 0-4 (0%) | 13-25 (34%) |
2026 WTA Finals – Group 1
Pegula can secure a semi-final spot by defeating Linda Noskova in her final group-stage match. A straight-sets victory would allow the American to top the group, whereas winning a decider would result in a second-place finish.
Qualification is also possible if both she and Gauff lose their final group-stage matches. The sole scenario in which Pegula fails to qualify from this position is if she loses to Noskova while Gauff defeats Kostyuk. The third round of group-stage matches is scheduled for Thursday, November 12.
