Pegula Beats Kostyuk at WTA Finals, Says Group-Stage Format Is Hard to Handle

Jessica Pegula WTA Finals 2026 win over Marta Kostyuk, Digi Mart USA News: Jessica Pegula defeated Marta Kostyuk in straight sets in her second match at the WTA Finals 2026, keeping her chances of reaching the semifinals alive. The American had struggled in her opening match against Coco Gauff.

Pegula said the group-stage format affects players’ mood when they lose a match. Even when the mathematics still leave a path to the semifinals, many players find it hard to keep competing after a defeat.

She made these comments on the Tennis Channel panel after her victory.

“It felt strange to win a match because since the last match of the US Open, I had only lost; then I went to Asia and lost in the first round, and yesterday I lost to Coco,” Pegula explained. She said the lack of victories had made even a routine post-match interview feel different, adding that it felt great to hear the fans cheering for her again.

Pegula also analyzed the difficulty of playing Kostyuk, who can quickly change the pace of a match. Although she dominated early, Kostyuk regained ground and forced a more demanding second set.

“It’s complicated because you never know what is going to come,” Pegula said, citing speed changes, aggressive net rushes and winners off the return.

She said one key was being more patient. “I was a bit more patient with her today,” Pegula said, noting that she usually likes to take the ball early but sometimes needs more time against players who are comfortable with a consistent pace.

She also said varying her serves and changing speeds helped her find better opportunities against Kostyuk.

Pegula reflected on the mental demands of the WTA Finals, where losing a match does not end the tournament. “We are used to losing a match and thinking: ‘That’s it, see you next year.’ But here you have to stay and keep competing,” she said.

She added that she had been thinking about her previous loss during warm-ups, but had to refocus quickly for a different opponent.

With the win over Kostyuk, Pegula’s next match against Noskova will determine her chances of advancing, according to the report.