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That means our first semi-final match should get under way on time at 3pm (GMT). In the mean time, have you signed up for our weekly newsletters? No? It only takes a click.
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The first doubles semi-final has just finished, with Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani defeating Hsieh Su-wei and Jelena Ostapenko 6-4, 6-6 (7-5).
Babos and Stefani, the No 7 seeds, will face the winners of Friday’s later second semi-final: Katerina Siniakova & Taylor Townsend v Elise Mertens & Veronika Kudermetova.
Hungary’s Timea Babos and Brazil’s Luisa Stefani during their semi-final victory. Photograph: Stéphanie Lecocq/ReutersShare
Preamble
There will be a new name on the WTA Finals trophy this year: none of the four players still standing have won this title before. The favourite, world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, lost her only final appearance, to Caroline Garcia in 2022. She faces Amanda Anisimova in the second semi-final, which promises to be a power-hitting masterclass.
Before that, surprise front-runner Elena Rybakina takes on Jessica Pegula for a place in the final. Having dipped out of the world’s top 10 in the summer, Rybakina rediscovered her form in the year’s Asian swing and has defied a poor prior record in this event, winning all three round-robin games to qualify for her first semi-final spot.
As for Pegula, she reached the final in 2023, only to lose 6-1, 6-0 to Iga Swiatek. Despite losing a tight contest against Sabalenka, she made it through to the last four by beating Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini. The American starts as underdog today but has a 3-1 advantage in the two players’ head-to-head record.
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