WTA Finals | Aryna Sabalenka completes hat-trick of wins in group as she dumps out reigning champion Coco Gauff in clinical display

Aryna Sabalenka's quest for glory in Riyadh is still on after defeating world number three Coco Gauff 7-6(5), 6-2. However, it is the end of the road for the American in the WTA Finals.

After Jessica Pegula wrapped up a straight set victory over Jasmine Paolini, there was a lot of pressure going into the final Round Robin clash in a repeat of the Roland Garros final earlier this year. Sabalenka only needed a set to qualify, but she was gunning for top spot, with a win firmly on her mind.

For Gauff, she ideally wanted a straight set victory, which would have seen her top the group and dump out the world number one, with a three-set victory likely not going to be enough.

With this in mind, the 21-year-old raced into a 2-0 lead after clinching a break in the opening game. She could not keep her advantage for long, with the Belarusian pouncing on missed opportunities from Gauff to draw level. Gauff would react in brilliant fashion, breaking back once more to go 3-2 ahead in the first set, before dragging herself further clear.

She squandered three opportunities to go 5-2 ahead with a double break, but following this went 5-3 ahead and was serving for the set. She had played some clinical tennis so far, answering any questions Sabalenka threw at her. However, the tide was set to turn in the four-time Grand Slam champion's favour.

She held to love to go one away from her opponent before picking up a crucial break. Gauff had found herself 30-0 up and poised to go one set for the good, but Sabalenka turned the tables with a four-point swing to level up at 5-5.

The pair comfortably hold ahead of a tense tiebreaker. In similar fashion to the first set, Gauff took the early lead but was inevitably blown away by Sabalenka. She won six of the remaining seven points to round off set one and go just a solitary set away from a fourth consecutive WTA Finals semi-final.

The momentum was fully on her side, as she conceded just three points in the opening three games of set two. Most importantly, she had a double-break advantage. She extended it to 4-0 before Gauff managed to get a hold on the board.

She then propelled herself back into the set with a break. This was despite Sabalenka finding herself 40-0 up on her serve. For Gauff, that was one of two breaks she needed to grab back. Unfortunately, her hard work was undone instantly after when Sabalenka broke to love. The 27-year-old would then serve the tie out, finishing the Round Robin with three wins and just one set dropped.

This defeat means Gauff's hopes of retaining her title have come to an end. A damaging defeat against Pegula in her second match piled unnecessary pressure on this tie, which she was unable to come through. For Sabalenka, she has her sights firmly on a maiden WTA Finals crown. It will be a re-match from the US Open final against Amanda Anisimova in her semi-final clash, while Pegula takes on Elena Rybakina for a spot in the final.