Copyright Parade
Key Points Aryna Sabalenka powered past Coco Gauff in Riyadh 7-6(5), 6-2, ending the 21-year-old’s title defense and clinching her spot in the 2025 WTA Finals semifinals. The victory came months after Gauff beat Sabalenka in the 2025 French Open final — a match that sparked tension, an apology, and eventually a full-circle reunion between the two stars. Both players shared heartfelt posts after their WTA Finals showdown in Saudi Arabia, with Sabalenka calling the crowd’s energy “contagious” and Gauff thanking fans for their support. The WTA Finals mark the end of the tennis season — a showdown between eight of the best players on the planet, split into two groups battling for a spot in the semifinals. It’s where the entire season builds to a high-stakes finish. And this year’s lineup? Especially impressive. Between Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, and Madison Keys, the U.S. roster hasn’t been this stacked since the Serena and Venus Williams era in 2002. Naturally, all eyes were on the marquee matchup: Aryna Sabalenka versus Coco Gauff. On Thursday, November 6, that showdown finally happened in Riyadh. The defending champ, Gauff, 21, faced off against world No. 1 Sabalenka and fought hard, but Sabalenka came out on top 7-6(5), 6-2. For anyone not fluent in tennis scores, that means the first set was razor-close — Gauff nearly snatched it — but Sabalenka powered through and never looked back. The win pushed her into the semifinals and officially ended Gauff’s title defense. Oops! We’re unable to load this content right now. View directly on 𝕏 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Right after the match, Sabalenka jumped on Instagram to soak it in. “Semis bound ❤️🔥 @wtafinalsriyadh your energy is contagious 💪🏼,” she wrote. Fans piled into her comments with strings of fire and heart emojis. “Let’s go tigress! 🐯 What a fighter ⚔️ 💪🔥🔥🔥,” one person cheered. Oops! We’re unable to load this content right now. View directly on Instagram Meanwhile, Gauff took the loss gracefully, posting, “always an honor to be a part of and compete against the top 8 in the world, thank you riyadh 💜.” Her fans flooded the post with love and support, reminding her how much she’s already achieved this season. 💪 SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week 💪 Oops! We’re unable to load this content right now. View directly on Instagram It was a full-circle moment for the pair, who last clashed back in June during the French Open final. That day in Paris, Gauff lifted her first Roland-Garros trophy after a tense three-set comeback — 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 — while Sabalenka fought back tears and later admitted it was “the worst tennis I’ve played in the last I don’t know how many months.” She continued, “The conditions were terrible, and she simply was better in these conditions than me, and I think it was the worst final I ever played.” Oops! We’re unable to load this content right now. View directly on 𝕏 The Belarusian star said afterward she wasn’t proud of how she handled the loss and later apologized to Gauff for comments that downplayed her win. “We’ve always been really good with Coco,” Sabalenka told reporters at Wimbledon a few weeks later, according to Reuters. “I didn’t really want to offend her. I was just completely, like, upset with myself, and emotions got over me. I just completely lost it. Of course, she’s got my respect… we are good, we are friends.”
