Noskova Stuns Gauff at WTA Finals
Linda Noskova beat World No. 4 Coco Gauff in her opening match, leaving Gauff needing a win over Marta Kostyuk to reach the semifinals.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Tennis
Linda Noskova defeated Coco Gauff at the WTA Finals, breaking Gauff's serve four times in the first set. Gauff now faces Marta Kostyuk in the final Group 1 match, needing a win to qualify for the semifinals.
Why it matters
The loss leaves Gauff's semifinal hopes dependent on a single match against Kostyuk, a player she has beaten in four of six meetings. It also highlights Gauff's second-serve struggles, which allowed Noskova repeated breaks.
Gauff's second-serve points won fell to 2 of 17 in the first set, while Noskova landed over 70 percent of her first serves. Gauff's head-to-head lead over Kostyuk stands at 4-2, though Kostyuk enters on a five-match losing streak.
The players
Coco Gauff
An American tennis player and former US Open champion currently ranked World No. 4, known for her powerful groundstrokes and fast court speed.
Linda Noskova
A Czech tennis player who has risen rapidly through the rankings, known for her aggressive baseline play and strong first-serve percentage.
Marta Kostyuk
A Ukrainian tennis player currently ranked World No. 10, who entered the WTA Finals as an alternate after Elena Rybakina withdrew.
The details
Noskova broke Gauff's serve four times in the first set, with Gauff unable to win a break point on Noskova's serve. Gauff also conceded a 2-0 lead in the second set after losing her first service game there.
Timeline
Gauff's head-to-head win over Kostyuk at the Cincinnati Open came a few months before the WTA Finals.
Kostyuk beat Gauff at the Qatar Open in 2025.
Gauff's final Group 1 match against Kostyuk takes place Thursday.
Season Trajectory
The loss continues a pattern of second-serve vulnerability for Gauff, who committed 38 double faults across four Dubai matches earlier in 2026. Her season-ending standing now depends on a single match against Kostyuk, a player she has beaten in four of six meetings.
Gauff needs a win over Kostyuk Thursday to keep her semifinal hopes alive, and a loss would eliminate her from the group. Fantasy and betting markets tracking Gauff's second-serve points may need to reflect her 2 of 17 first-set performance.
The takeaway
Gauff's second-serve problems have shaped multiple matches this season, and her semifinal path now hinges on correcting them against Kostyuk. The result will show whether her 2026 struggles are a lasting issue or a temporary dip.
What happens next
Gauff's final Group 1 match against Marta Kostyuk is scheduled for Thursday and will determine whether she reaches the WTA Finals semifinals.
Further reading
For more on the season's top players and results, see our Tennis coverage.
