In a breathtaking showdown at the WTA Finals, Coco Gauff made history by outlasting China’s Zheng Qinwen to capture the championship, cementing her status as the youngest winner since Maria Sharapova in 2004. The 20-year-old American defeated Zheng in a grueling three-set battle, rallying from behind to take a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) victory, showcasing her resilience and fortitude over an intense three hours.
The final, held in Riyadh, saw Gauff claw back from deficits in both the second and third sets, turning the tide with gritty play and seizing the moment in the deciding tiebreak. Gauff stormed to a 6-0 lead in the tiebreak and, with her fifth match point, closed out the match in style. Her triumph not only made her the first American champion at the WTA Finals since Serena Williams in 2013 but also secured her a year-end ranking of world number three for the second consecutive year. Overwhelmed with emotion, Gauff celebrated her victory by dropping to the court, relishing the hard-fought win.
Reflecting on her accomplishment, Gauff said, “I was just trying my best to hang in there and never gave up. I was telling myself, ‘it’s another point, another chance.’” Her perseverance was evident throughout the match, especially after missing two match points at 6-5 in the final set. However, her unwavering determination allowed her to dominate the tiebreak and clinch the victory.
For Zheng Qinwen, it was a debut WTA Finals appearance filled with impressive performances. The 22-year-old Olympic gold medalist and seventh seed claimed the first set with powerful baseline play, breaking Gauff’s serve and saving all five break points against her. Her aggressive groundstrokes and consistent pressure kept Gauff on the defensive, giving Zheng an early advantage. Despite her eventual loss, Zheng showed her sportsmanship and appreciation, saying, “It was a long week, and I’m grateful to my team for keeping me strong. Congrats to Coco for her win and an incredible season.”
This year’s WTA Finals marked Gauff’s third appearance, and her journey to the title was anything but straightforward. After suffering a break in the second set and falling behind twice in the third, Gauff rallied each time, making the necessary adjustments to stay competitive. In an impressive feat, she also became the youngest player in 18 years to defeat both the world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, and number two, Iga Swiatek, in a single tournament. Gauff’s success in Riyadh also capped off a stellar season in which she secured titles in Beijing and reached the semifinals in Wuhan, proving her dominance on hard courts with an unblemished 8-0 record in finals on the surface.
In winning the WTA Finals, Gauff not only claimed a record-breaking $4.8 million prize but also added her name to an elite list of American champions who captured the WTA Finals before age 21. As Gauff continues to cement her place in tennis history, her fans are eager to see how far she will go, especially as she holds a bright future filled with potential for even greater achievements.
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