Jessica Pegula Trapped in an Intense Fight As Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys Join Coco Gauff in Booking WTA Finals Spots
The battle for spots at the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh has reached a fever pitch as Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova officially booked their tickets, leaving Jessica Pegula in a tense fight to join the elite year-end event.
With Coco Gauff already qualified, the American representation in Saudi Arabia is shaping up to be formidable, adding to a star-studded lineup that includes Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Świątek. While Gauff has been a consistent force on tour throughout the year, Keys and Anisimova have cemented their places with landmark achievements, leaving Pegula to navigate one of the closest points battles in recent WTA history.
With Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova Qualified, Where Does Jessica Pegula Stand in the WTA Finals Race?
The WTA Finals represent the pinnacle of women’s tennis, bringing together the season’s top performers in a high-stakes, end-of-year showcase. For American tennis, Gauff has led the charge with 5,574 points in the WTA Live Race.
Keys, after a breakthrough Australian Open campaign in which she captured her first Grand Slam title, added her name to the list early in the season. Her form continued throughout the year with semifinal runs at prestigious events in London and Indian Wells, further solidifying her qualification for Riyadh and her position as the No. 6 player in the WTA rankings.
Meanwhile, Anisimova has turned in one of her most impressive campaigns, reaching back-to-back Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and the US Open and claiming her first WTA 1000 title in Doha.
Anisimova’s ongoing campaign in Beijing at the China Open is equally compelling. She rallied from a set down to defeat sixth seed Jasmine Paolini 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4, sealing her first-ever WTA Finals qualification. Anisimova now sits at No. 4 in the WTA rankings with 5,298 points and is set to face Gauff in the China Open semifinals.
Pegula, however, finds herself in a precarious position. She holds 4,423 points in the Live Race, placing her sixth but within striking distance of challengers like Mirra Andreeva (4,309) and Elena Rybakina (3,806).
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She has been enjoying her best season with three titles (Bad Homburg, Charleston, Austin) and two final appearances (Miami and Adelaide). Pegula has played in the last three WTA Finals editions and reached the final in 2023.
The World No. 7 is competing in Beijing, where she has advanced to the quarterfinals. Pegula will face fellow American Emma Navarro for the third time on tour, having held the upper hand in their past meetings.
