Coco Gauff had five million reasons to want another WTA Finals title, at least according to her own humorous assessment. The American joked about the tournament's record prize money after defeating Marta Kostyuk in her final Group 1 match, but her hopes of lifting the trophy again ended just hours later following Jessica Pegula's victory over Linda Noskova.
Gauff needed to beat Kostyuk to maintain her chances of reaching the semifinals and delivered a convincing performance, completing a straight-sets victory with a dominant 6-1 third set. The result kept the 2024 champion in contention, although her progression depended on the outcome of the final Group 1 encounter.
Pegula faced an already-qualified Noskova with the second semifinal spot at stake. The American eventually prevailed 7-6, 4-6, 7-5 in a hard-fought contest, securing her place in the last four alongside the Czech and bringing Gauff's campaign to an end despite her own victory.
The elimination meant Gauff would not get the opportunity to pursue a second WTA Finals crown or achieve what she had described as an even more meaningful accomplishment: winning the Billie Jean King Trophy on home soil.
Gauff jokes about having five million reasons to win WTA Finals
Gauff's post-match interview, conducted before Pegula and Noskova took to the court, offered an insight into her motivation, the physical demands of the end-of-season competition and what another triumph would have meant.
Asked about the possibility of lifting the Billie Jean King Trophy again, Gauff initially responded with a joke about the financial incentive available to the players in Indian Wells. "Well, I mean, I have a car and five million reasons to want to try to win..." the American said. "I'm just kidding," she added smilling.
Coco Gauff of United States celebrates the win of the match during the 2026 US Open
The 22-year-old quickly shifted towards a more serious explanation, acknowledging the difficulty of competing at the end of a long season and the importance of making the most of her remaining opportunities.
"Just competing out here, honestly, it's the end of the season, so just trying to give it my all," she explained. "Maybe if this match had been in the middle of the season, I might not have finished it. But I was just like, you know, it's the end, it's the final push, and let's just see what I can do."
Her comments highlighted the physical and mental demands of the WTA Finals, particularly after a lengthy season on tour. "Hopefully, this scenario doesn't happen again, but it's bound to happen again at some point. I think it's just about knowing what to do better next time," the world No. 4 concluded. "So I'm definitely taking this as a learning experience."
Coco Gauff after beating Marta Kostyuk at WTA Finals “Tell us a little bit how much this tournament means to you..” Coco: “I have a car and 5,000,000 reasons to wanna try to win. I’m just kidding” 😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/ZKPDF6M4fY
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 12, 2026
Gauff wanted to win WTA Finals at home
Another WTA Finals title would have represented a particularly significant achievement for Gauff. The American previously won the competition in 2024, defeating Zheng Qinwen in the championship match in Riyadh to secure one of the biggest titles of her career.
The 2026 edition offered a different setting, with Indian Wells hosting the season-ending tournament in California. That gave Gauff the opportunity to compete for the Billie Jean King Trophy in front of a home crowd, something she suggested would make another triumph even more special. "Obviously, I won this title two years ago. It meant a lot to me, but I think it would mean even more to do it here at home."
Unfortunately for Gauff, that possibility disappeared later in the evening. Pegula's three-set victory over Noskova confirmed the American's elimination, leaving the former champion unable to add another WTA Finals title to her collection. Gauff nevertheless finished her group-stage campaign with a victory over Kostyuk, showing resilience in a match she knew she had to win.
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Noskova finished Group 1 at the top of the standings, while Pegula advanced in second place, despite both players recording two wins and one defeat. The Czech secured first position thanks to a superior sets record, leaving the American to settle for the runner-up spot. Pegula will now face Mirra Andreeva in the semifinals.
Noskova, meanwhile, must wait for the outcome of the match between Elina Svitolina and Aryna Sabalenka to discover her semifinal opponent. Interestingly, none of the three players already qualified for the last four has previously won the WTA Finals. Should Sabalenka eliminate Svitolina, it would guarantee that streak continues, with a first-time champion being crowned for the 13th consecutive edition of the season-ending tournament.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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- I, like writer of this wonderful article, also picked Noskova to win this entire thing. I would love it if she and Andreeva are in the final.Rapunzel12-11-2026
- "Priorities", Saba... spend less time in front of cameras, anti-Social Media, selfies and back to Tennis.
mandoist12-11-2026 - Tell this to Andreeva!mandoist12-11-2026
- Andreeva with 11 games in a row to add to Saba's downward spiral issue !!! Personal feelings aside... Jess Pegula may want to reassess her evaluation of Mirra's abilities.mandoist12-11-2026
- I predicted whenthe list was finalised that Linda Noskova would win the WTA Finals and her matches against Gauff and Kostyuk prove that. She is the best (underrated) player in the world!Rapunzel11-11-2026
- Either Lena has a chronic internal ailment (i.e., colitis, enteritis, Crohn's, or some type of lower abdomen issue) -- or she is once again dealing with 'Vukovitis'. Mental stress can indeed cause lower body pains. No matter... whatever is truly going on sucks. "Virus" excuse is getting a bit old -- and often -- at this point.mandoist09-11-2026
- Ironically, Martina became a U.S. Citizen about the same time as the Orange Convicted Felon & Abuser was just beginning on his road to losing all Daddy's Millions!!mandoist09-11-2026
- "Another fresh start is in the cards." Thanks for the Humor!! I'm guessing this is the minimum one can do to keep all your sponsors hanging-on in perpetuity?mandoist09-11-2026
- Vukov is doing this to Lena... AGAIN!!!!! WTA's autonomous collective should be dismantled for allowing Vukov to re-emerge from his hand-slapping suspension. Just ask WTA employees how that's been going lately as they witness his continued verbal abuses. Women's Pro Tennis should start over.mandoist08-11-2026
- Can't help but suspect Vukov is back to his old self again. Thank you, WTA. Perhaps you can give them a "Battling Couple of the Year Award 2026" ??mandoist08-11-2026
