Coco Gauff Captures WTA Finals Crown and Report Champion’s Test

Downsides are solely begin ups for Coco Gauff.

Right this moment, a spirited Gauff rode an unrelenting comeback cost to the WTA Finals championship.

In a frenetic last, Gauff broke when Zheng Qinwen served for the title at 5-4 storming to a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) triumph within the Riyadh last.

“I wish to congratulate Qinwen on a tremendous match and match,” Gauff stated. “You’ve had a stellar season. Successful the gold medal and all of the finals and hopefully we are able to play many extra finals collectively…It’s enjoyable competitors.”

Rallying from a set and a 1-3 deficit, a gritty Gauff roared again from a break down twice within the decider then sped to a 6-0 lead within the tiebreaker.

Gauff transformed her fifth championship level to shut a bodily three hour, four-minute triumph and full one of the vital memorable rallies of her profession.

At 20 years, 241 days outdated, Gauff is the youngest lady to win the WTA Finals since Maria Sharapova (17 years, 210 days) in 2004.

It’s a monumental comeback of velocity, spirit and psychological energy from Gauff, who improved to 9-1 in WTA Finals.

Gauff collected a file WTA champion’s examine of $4.805 million—the most important payday in Tour historical past—and made extra historical past as the primary lady in Open Period to publish an 8-0 file in her first eight hard-court finals.

The 2023 US Open champion’s resounding restoration completes an excellent week that noticed her beat No. 2 Iga Swiatek in round-robin play then topple world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka within the semifinals. Gauff is the seventh lady within the final 40 years to defeat world No.1 and No. 2 on the WTA Finals.

It’s a painful conclusion for Zheng, who was outplayed for the primary half of the primary set and put herself in place to win each the second and third units.

The 22-year-old Zheng was up a set and 3-1 then led 5-3 within the decider, however Gauff refused to yield because the Australian Open finalist’s quest to change into the primary Asian champion in WTA Finals historical past got here up barely brief.

“I wish to say due to everybody who comes tonight to get pleasure from this tennis match,” stated Zheng, who earned a runner-up examine of $2.305 million. “Because of Saudi Tennis Federation for creating such an amazing match.”