Aryna Sabalenka v Coco Gauff result - World No. 1 reaches last four at WTA Finals as defending champion Gauff crashes out

Aryna Sabalenka remains flawless at the 2025 WTA Finals after the world No. 1 surged into the last four at the expense of defending champion Coco Gauff.

The Belarusian made it three wins from three in Steffi Graf Group courtesy of a 7-6(5) 6-2 victory to send the American home early.

The four-time Grand Slam champion is now into her fourth semi-final in a row at this tournament where she will meet Amanda Anisimova on Friday.

Gauff twice led with a break advantage at 2-0 and 4-2 in the opener but could not convert the insurance in the seventh game and Sabalenka saved three break points to stay in the hunt.

It proved pivotal as Sabalenka finally put aside her early frustrations to break back to 5-5 as the American failed to serve out the set from 30-0 up.

Sabalenka then fought back from 2-4 down in the tie-break to seal it 7-5 and claim a rollercoaster first set in 56 minutes.  

All of the momentum was with the top seed now and she oozed confidence as she broke twice on her way to a 4-0 lead.

Gauff finally stopped the rot and crushed a series of powerhouse returns to earn one break back, but Sabalenka quickly re-established her authority to take the next two games and prevail in one hour and 28 minutes.

Sabalenka does not blink as the world number one serves out to 15 to book her spot in the last four and send the 2024 champion crashing out.

Gauff needs her serve to ignite but it performs the opposite as she wobbles with a double fault.

It unnerves the third seed who can’t live with the power of the Belarusian’s return this time and Aryna breaks to love to quickly regain that insurance.

Gauff unleashes one of the shots of the match with a thumping return winner down the line.

It’s the catalyst for her to hit back from 40-0 down and press at deuce.

The American crushes another forehand return to force an error and earn a break point which she converts with a quite magnificent backhand winner.

That’s one break back but it remains a huge task from here.

Gauff stands tall under pressure at 30-15 and lures a backhand just long.

‘Come on’ - she yells with some semblance of belief still in there.

A double fault prolongs matters but there’s no late twist as Sabalenka misfires to allow her back on to the board.

At 30-0 down Coco finally kicks into life again but a forehand at Pulp (30-30) gives Sabalenka game point.

The top seed double faults to leave the door slightly ajar at deuce but the American flashes just long and then fires a rushed, low forehand into the net.

It took a bit of doing, but Sabalenka backs up the insurance and is surely only moments away from completing the job.

This is running away from the reigning champion now.

She’s lost her composure and her forehand is faltering now.

Sabalenka doesn’t have to do much to break to love, with Gauff hammering a smash way long that sums up her current mindset.

Sabalenka looks much more composed now and comfortably consolidates to 15.

It's a big, big ask for Coco from here.

Coco looks to the heavens, sighs and closes her eyes in frustration as Sabalenka’s awkward slice from the forecourt clips the net and bobbles over.

The Belarusian goes on to tee up an early break point and converts when Gauff drills a forehand from a neutral position into the net.

It’s the world number one who takes a rollercoaster 56-minute opener.

The Belarusian took five of the last six points to bite back from 2-4 down to seal the breaker 7-5.

Ouch.

Gauff double faults and it's two set points to Saba after the Blearusian had trailed 2-4.

There are shades of the French Open final here as Sabalenka dominates and goes bigger and bigger desperately trying to breech the Gauff defences.

The world number one drops her racquet in dismay as she volleys just wide to trail 3-1 but then Coco fluffs her lines in the forecourt.

The American quickly resets and a clutch serve sees her take charge at the change of ends.

Coco digs in and survives with some supreme defensive counter-punching from deep in the corners to halt the run against her and force the breaker via a game to 15.

Talk about finding another gear.

All of a sudden Aryna is flying as she cannons down a succession of huge serves and wields that brutal forehand to dart through a clean hold.

It's a complete turnaround and from serving for the set, Gauff must now hold to stay in it.

The defending champion deservedly takes a 40-minute opener.

The third seed opens with a sublime short slice that completely bamboozles her opponent but sees a 30-0 lead erode as Sabalenka manages to balance her power and depth to force a pair of errors.

Coco defends superbly in the crucial point that follows, but Saba digs out a wonderful pick-up and comes up trumps in the cat and mouse with a volley at the net.

The Belarusian then screams in delight as she darts to her right to pummel a forehand winner down the line and level the set.

Sabalenka shakes her racquet in satisfaction after scorching away a ferocious plus-one forehand.

For once Gauff offers no resistance as the world number one give herself one last chance to bite back with a rampant love hold.

Coco kicks off with a delightful 1-2 forehand punch and then stands firm as Aryna continues to over-press, lashing wide and long as Gauff stays in charge with a hold to 15.

Sabalenka’s decision to play faster and go bigger when things don’t come off isn’t really working in her favour.

She scorches another backhand off the island and faces up to two more break points.

A clinical backhand down the line from the forecourt wipes out one and she drags herself to deuce with a timely first serve.

Coco comes again and sizzles a backhand down the line to earn a third chance, but Sabalenka again responds with a clutch serve.

The US Open champion slams down a hefty second serve to finally seize control of the game and then plants down an ace to complete the rescue-act.

Sabalenka is trying to target the Gauff forehand but it is standing up to the test so far.

The world number one has her hands on hips as she continues to come up second best.

Coco nails an absolute beauty of a forehand down the line and then lands an ace as she backs up the break with a clean hold.