Three match points saved and a first WTA 1000 final: Noskova edges out Pegula in a nail-biter in Beijing

Linda Noskova won an intense semifinal against Jessica Pegula to join Amanda Anisimova in what promises to be a closely contested final in Beijing.

Who will join Amanda Anisimova in the final of the Beijing WTA 1000? The world number 4, efficient against Gauff (6-1, 6-2 in 58 minutes), made a strong impression but was waiting to find out the identity of her opponent in the final.

That opponent was either Jessica Pegula or Linda Noskova. The two players faced off for the third time this season. So far, the record is perfectly even between the American and the Czech (1-1).

The 20-year-old Czech, appearing in the semifinals of a WTA 1000 for the first time in her career, was not overwhelmed by the occasion. With a break in the middle of the first set, she then held on until the end to take the lead in the score in 36 minutes.

But Pegula then had the resources to bounce back. After a one-sided second set, the 31-year-old player easily leveled the match at one set all. Undecided, the match became tense at the start of the third set, as it began with four consecutive breaks.

After this moment of uncertainty, both players became dominant again on their service games. At 5-5, the world number 7 then produced a very good return game, which allowed her to serve for the match.

But although she managed to earn three match points in the game, Pegula could not close it out. Mentally strong, the WTA's 27th-ranked player fought back and snatched a breath-taking decisive tie-break.

Finally, Noskova managed to convert her second opportunity and reached her first WTA 1000 final of her young career (6-3, 1-6, 7-6 in 2h28), after saving three match points.

For the title, she will play on Sunday against Amanda Anisimova, who won their last encounter at Wimbledon this summer (6-2, 5-7, 6-4). However, it was Noskova who won their only hardcourt match, at Indian Wells two years ago (7-6, 6-3).