The Russian star has been in dominant form throughout the $10 million event, maintaining an unblemished record by not dropping a single set. Her path to the final included a flawless 3-0 record in the round-robin stage, where she conceded only 11 games—the lowest total for any player at this stage of the competition since 2003.
A breakthrough performance in the desert
Saturday's semifinal clash saw Andreeva overcome a brief challenge from the experienced Pegula. Although the American managed to secure a break of serve to establish a 3-1 lead in the second set, Andreeva responded with clinical precision. She reclaimed control of the match by winning five of the final six games, effectively ending Pegula's bid for a maiden title at her fifth consecutive Finals appearance.
This result further bolsters Andreeva's impressive 2024 campaign, moving her head-to-head record against Top 10 opponents to 4-5. Her recent run of form in the Southern California desert includes notable victories over world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 6 Elina Svitolina, and now the third-ranked Pegula. The win also guarantees that the French Open champion will finish the season as the world No. 2, a position Pegula would have claimed had she emerged victorious.
Looking ahead to the final
As she prepares for Sunday's championship match, Andreeva awaits the winner of the second semifinal between Elina Svitolina and Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. The occasion will serve as a reminder of the last time a teenager graced this stage, when a 17-year-old Sharapova famously defeated Serena Williams in a three-set thriller two decades ago.
