Tennis legend Chris Evert recently shared her thoughts on the match between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka at the WTA Finals, taking to social media to reflect on an encounter between two of the tour’s elite competitors. The former champion highlighted the exceptional shotmaking and defensive displays she observed during the competition in Riyadh, underscoring the consistent elevation of women’s tennis.
Aryna Sabalenka’s Comeback Victory Against Coco Gauff and Chris Evert’s Admiration
World No. 1 Sabalenka orchestrated an impressive comeback against defending WTA Finals champion Gauff in their decisive round-robin clash on November 6, securing a 7-6(5), 6-2 victory that clinched her semifinal berth. Gauff came out aggressively and held a commanding position throughout much of the first set, breaking Sabalenka early and establishing a 4-2 advantage that suggested she might control the match.
However, Sabalenka demonstrated resilience and tactical awareness, fighting back to level the set at 5-5 before forcing a tiebreaker. In a critical moment, Sabalenka came from 4-2 down in the tiebreaker to secure a 7-5 victory in that deciding sequence, shifting momentum decisively in her favor.
The second set showcased Sabalenka’s dominance as she claimed the opening four games and ultimately won the set 6-2, a commanding performance that sealed her spot in the semifinals. Match statistics underscored Sabalenka’s superior play, as she recorded three aces while committing only one double fault throughout the encounter.
In stark contrast, Gauff struggled significantly with her service game, hitting just two aces while recording six double faults. Sabalenka also converted five of six break-point opportunities compared to Gauff’s conversion of just three of seven chances.
Following the match, Evert posted her reaction on X: “Watched the Sabalenka Gauff match yesterday…really enjoyed it, high level, great shotmaking and defense from both ….women’s tennis just keeps getting better!”
Watched the @SabalenkaA @CocoGauff match yesterday…really enjoyed it, high level, great shotmaking and defense from both ….women’s tennis just keeps getting better! #admiration #WTAFinals
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) November 7, 2025
Her words reflected genuine appreciation for the quality of tennis both competitors displayed on court and captured the essence of the match’s high-caliber play.
Sabalenka’s Path Forward at WTA Finals
After defeating Gauff, Sabalenka discussed her remarkable turnaround in the first set tiebreaker, crediting her aggressive approach for the shift in momentum. “I was just trying to stay aggressive, I guess. I was just trying to find my rhythm, find my game. I was kind of working for the second set already, and magically I was able to turn things around.”
This victory gave her a perfect 3-0 record in the Stefanie Graf Group, securing the top position in her section and eliminating the defending champion from the competition.
Elena Rybakina delivered a commanding performance against Jessica Pegula in their semifinal encounter on November 7, defeating the American 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 after coming back from a set down. The Kazakh player’s performance was fueled by an extraordinary serving display, firing 15 aces throughout the match to establish control over the crucial moments.
Rybakina’s win secured her place in the WTA Finals championship match for the first time in her career. She will face either Sabalenka or Amanda Anisimova in the finals on Saturday.
