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World No. 3 Coco Gauff pulled off a stunning upset in the semifinals of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, beating World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the championship match. The 20-year-old American handed Sabalenka her second consecutive loss in Riyadh, making history in the process. Gauff became only the third player since 2010 to score victories over both the World No. 1 and No. 2 players at the WTA Finals.
With this victory, Gauff also etched her name in the record books as the youngest player to reach the WTA Finals championship match since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010. She is now aiming to become the youngest-ever WTA Finals champion since Maria Sharapova won the title back in 2004.
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Gauff to Face Zheng for the Title
Gauff's reward for her incredible performance is a showdown with Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in Saturday’s final. Zheng made it through to the final after a hard-fought win over Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in the first semifinal. The winner of Saturday's match will not only take home the prestigious title but also a record-breaking $4,805,000 — the largest prize money check ever awarded in women’s professional tennis.
A Thrilling Semifinal: Gauff vs. Sabalenka
Friday’s semifinal was a clash of hard-court titans, with Sabalenka coming in as the tour leader in hard-court wins with 40. Gauff, who had 33 wins on the surface, had a chance to exact revenge after splitting their previous eight encounters with Sabalenka. The Belarusian had the upper hand this season, beating Gauff in the semifinals of both the Australian Open and Wuhan Open.
Despite those defeats, Gauff arrived in Riyadh full of confidence. In Wuhan, she had pushed Sabalenka to three sets despite a career-high 21 double faults. Gauff had felt that had she minimized her serving errors, the result could have been different. And on Friday, she showed exactly how to make it happen.
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Gauff started the match with precision, breaking the deadlock at 4-4 with a mix of powerful serving and resilient baseline play. She used her forehand to dictate points, attacking with pace while also using her speed to force Sabalenka into long rallies. Throughout the match, Gauff maintained more consistent pressure, creating six break points to Sabalenka’s three.
In the opening set, Gauff outpaced Sabalenka in the winner count, hitting 11 winners to Sabalenka’s six. Meanwhile, Sabalenka was uncharacteristically error-prone, committing 18 forehand unforced errors. The opening set was a tight affair with both players breaking serve twice, but Gauff’s steady play gave her the edge when it mattered most.
Sabalenka’s Year-End No. 1
Despite the loss, Sabalenka will finish the 2024 season as World No. 1, a significant achievement for the Belarusian. She came to Riyadh determined to hold off Iga Swiatek, ranked No. 2, and secure her place atop the rankings for the first time in her career. Sabalenka had already sealed her No. 1 spot after Gauff defeated Swiatek in the group stage earlier in the week, ensuring Sabalenka’s top ranking heading into the year-end finale.
With the championship match now set, all eyes will be on Coco Gauff and Zheng Qinwen as they vie for the biggest prize of their careers.
