World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka lost to Jessica Pegula in straight sets as the WTA Finals continued in Cancun on Tuesday.
Sabalenka and Pegula had won their opening matches on Sunday evening, with the former breezing past Maria Sakkari 6-0 6-1 and Pegula defeating Elena Rybakina 7-5 6-2.
American world No 5 Pegula is now the only unbeaten player in Group A after seeing off Sabalenka 6-4 6-3 for just her second victory over the Belarusian in six meetings.
One of Pegula’s four previous losses to Sabalenka had come in the group stage of the 2022 WTA Finals but she earned revenge a year later to inch closer to the semi-finals.
Sabalenka had been critical of the hastily-assembled arena in Cancun after beating Sakkari on Sunday, saying: “I’m very disappointed with the WTA and the experience at the WTA Finals.
“As a player, I feel really disrespected by the WTA. I think most of us do. This is not the level of organisation we expect for the Finals.
“To be honest, I don’t feel safe moving on this court a lot of the time, the bounce is not consistent at all, and we weren’t able to practise on this court until yesterday for the first time.”
Swiatek and Gauff to meet on Wednesday
Sakkari and Rybakina meet in Tuesday’s second match before the players in Group B play their second fixtures on Wednesday as Iga Swiatek battles Coco Gauff and Ons Jabeur faces Markéta Vondroušová.
Swiatek and Gauff head the pool following wins over Vondroušová and Jabeur respectively – Polish player Swiatek winning 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 against her Czech opponent and American Gauf surging to a 6-0 6-1 success against Tunisia’s Jabeur.
US Open champion Gauff announced after thrashing Jabeur that she had split with coach Pere Riba but that she is still working alongside renowned coach Brad Gilbert.
Spaniard Riba joined Gauff’s team ahead of the 2023 Eastbourne International in June, with the American later hiring Gilbert as a consultant.
The 19-year-old won the Citi Open in Washington, Cincinnati Open, and then the US Open under their guidance.