Belarusian seventh seed Aryna Sabalenka improved her probabilities of reaching the WTA Finals final 4 with a 6-3 7-5 win over American Jessica Pegula.
Sabalenka, 24, can solely be stopped from qualifying by Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur profitable in straight units towards Greece’s Maria Sakkari in a while Friday.
Another end result – a Sakkari victory or Jabeur profitable in three units – sees Sabalenka by for the primary time.
Fifth seed Sakkari, 27, is already assured of progressing as group winner.
The season-ending occasion sees the world’s eight finest gamers this season cut up into two teams of 4.
After the round-robin matches, the highest two in every group transfer by to Sunday’s semi-finals.
French sixth seed Caroline Garcia and Russian eighth seed Daria Kasatkina meet on Saturday, with the winner ending runner-up within the different group and enjoying Sakkari within the final 4.
Poland’s world primary Iga Swiatek has already gained that group and faces Sabalenka or Jabeur.
Sabalenka produced three double faults as she tried to serve out the match towards Pegula at 5-4 within the second set, however recovered to carry for love on the subsequent try and clinched victory when the winless American was unable to carry her serve.
The WTA Finals is happening in Fort Price, Texas, after the occasion was moved from traditional host metropolis Shenzhen, in China, for the second successive 12 months.
In December final 12 months, the ladies’s governing physique introduced the speedy suspension of all tournaments in China amid concern for Chinese language tennis participant Peng Shuai.
Peng, 36, disappeared from public view for 3 weeks after accusing a prime Chinese language official of sexual assault.
