Coco Gauff pulled off a big comeback Thursday at the WTA Finals. It was not enough to keep her in the tournament.

Gauff won the final six games to beat Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 7-5 in Indian Wells. Her fate then rested on fellow American Jessica Pegula's match against Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.

Pegula won that one 7-6 (2), 4-6, 7-5. The victory sent her into the semifinals and knocked out Gauff, her former doubles partner.

Down 5-1 in the second set

Gauff led 5-2 in the first set before Kostyuk broke to get within 5-4. Gauff broke right back with a gutsy crosscourt backhand volley winner to take the set.

The second set started badly for her. Kostyuk raced to a 4-0 lead and then led 5-1. Gauff struggled with her serve and double-faulted away two games. She also needed a trainer early in the set and was worked on while lying on her side.

Then the comeback began. Gauff saved three break points and hit a crosscourt forehand winner to hold. She broke twice to tie it at 5-5, held for 6-5 and won the match when Kostyuk netted a forehand.

Pegula moves on

Gauff had beaten Pegula in three sets in their opening group match. Pegula's win over Noskova left Noskova, Pegula and Gauff all at 2-1 in Group 1. Gauff finished third on percentage of sets won.

Noskova had already locked up her place in the semifinals. Kostyuk, who got into the event as the first alternate after top-ranked Elena Rybakina withdrew, finished 0-3.

Gauff won the WTA Finals in 2024. This was her fifth straight trip to the season-ending event.