By Tony Fairbairn
- Coco Gauff [3] def Qinwen Zheng [7] 3-6 6-4 7-6(2)
- Coco Gauff praised her resilience after winning the WTA Finals in a three hour thriller
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – Coco Gauff praised her resilience after the American defeated Qinwen Zheng in a three hour classic to become the WTA Finals champion.
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Coco Gauff [3] def Qinwen Zheng [7] 3-6 6-4 7-6(2)
After defeating the world’s top two players on her way to the final, Coco Gauff sealed an incredible week by winning a three hour epic against Qinwen Zheng to become the WTA Finals champion. The American is the youngest champion of the event since Maria Sharapova in 2004 and the first American for six years to win the event.
It was a hard-fought final in which Gauff had the majority of the chances early on with the American being aggressive on return as the forehand did some big damage. However Gauff failed to take any of her four break point opportunities early on in the match as Zheng displayed some high quality counter-attacking tennis, being clutch on big points.
Although Gauff had displayed some aggressive tennis early on, frustration was starting to set in with the Chinese number one’s confidence rising as the set went on. That confidence saw Zheng take her second break point of the set as she had the chance to serve for the set at 5-3. Another break point came and went for the world number three and a backhand into the net from Gauff sealed the set for Zheng as she claimed a mammoth 57 minute set.
The challenge for Gauff got tougher in the second set when the American was broken in the opening game with Zheng opening up a 3-1 lead with some incredible play on the forehand side. Although Gauff was struggling to cope with the Olympic gold medallist’s mix of depth and angles, the third seed’s mentality was strong and an aggressive return game in the sixth game saw her break to love and levelled the set at 3-3.
A change in approach to come to the net was proving crucial for Gauff who would win four games in a row in order to have the chance to serve for the second set at 5-3. There was no quit in Zheng either as she also approached the net and saved set point in order to break back in the next game. However Gauff’s second set comeback was rewarded as she broke right back and forced the deciding set with the backhand doing the damage this time around.
The final set would be the biggest rollercoaster anyone’s ever witnessed as Zheng once again started the set with authority, breaking in the opening game before consolidating by saving break point. The world number seven’s persistent forehand would cause more problems for Gauff as the American avoided the double break deficit in the third game, saving two more break points.
That seemed to light a spark in Gauff who broke back with some consistent hitting from the baseline, once again using the forehand to dictate play. Another twist would occur in this incredible match as Zheng broke comfortably to take a 4-3 lead as the topspin forehand would once again cause problems.
This match would be decided by who was more secure under pressure and Zheng was anything but secure in the big moments as she failed to serve the match out. Gauff broke back for 5-5 and then created two championship points in the twelfth game. Some gutsy play on the forehand saw Zheng save both championship points with this match being decided in a final set tiebreak.
Both players gave it all but it would be Gauff who was the more dominant player in the most crucial part of the match. The American took a 6-0 lead in the tiebreak and would eventually convert her fifth championship point to seal the biggest title of her season.
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Gauff ‘proud’ after resilience proves crucial in WTA Finals glory
After a tough start to the season, Gauff has stormed through the latter stages of the season and has momentum on her side heading into 2025.
The American beat both Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek on her way to the final and held her nerve when it mattered most to lift the WTA Finals title.
Speaking after the match Gauff expressed her pride after a difficult season as she spoke about the resilience needed to win this match.
“I know I was like a couple points away from losing, but, you know, I just tried to stay in the moment, honestly, and I’m really proud of myself. Just staying resilient, fighting for every point,” Gauff told the WTA website.
“I knew that it was going to be a tough match. This is the second time we played, it was tough, and at the start of the match, she was playing a great level.
“At the end of the match, when I, like, fell on the floor, I didn’t think I was going to do that. I kind of, like, made a promise to myself that I will only save that for Grand Slams. But honestly, to the way the match went, I was like, ‘I’m just tired. I just want to lay
on the ground.’”
Gauff now ends the year as the world number three for the second consecutive year and will leave Saudi Arabia with over $4.8 million.
Zheng praises fighting spirit after close defeat
It was disappointment for Olympic gold medallist Zheng who had a break lead twice in the final set and was a set and a break lead in the match.
However Zheng has had an incredible tournament and will leave Riyadh having ended the season as a top five player for the first time in her career.
Speaking about the match Zheng said the result came down to some decision-making and cited endurance for the defeat.
“The match today, it’s just a couple of important points,” Zheng told the WTA website.
“Nothing more to say. The match was very close, and then, you know, at the end, when you play this type of match, it’s not about tennis, it’s just about choices on court. This match is very endurance, instead of, you know, explosive tennis.
“Yes, lot of physical but I would say sometimes, maybe in this match, I wasn’t that patient. Honestly, when I play Olympic Games, I was much more patient than right now. But in the same time, I feel when I had a short ball and when I attacked, if I could make those balls, the match maybe gonna change. But, well, it’s tennis. I mean, sometimes that can happen.”
Despite the defeat it has been an incredible season for Zheng who reached her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open as well as winning Olympic gold.
Reflecting on her tournament and year Zheng spoke about her fighting spirit and the positives that she will take heading into next season.
“There is some great matches I play, for sure. Of course, the final, you know, is tough match. There’s lots of rally, very endurance, you know, she’s a type of solid player,” Zheng explained to the WTA website.
“I think her game style is quite different than Sabalenka, the [other] match that I lost. So both of these players, when I lost against them, makes me think, makes me find a way to improve. When you lost a match, there’s lessons you have to learn.
“So I would say it’s a lot of positive things here, because it’s my first WTA Finals and I’m here, but in the same time, you know, I feel hurt to lose this match for sure. But we will see. Maybe next time I will be better.
“I think the positive thing is, I fight, whatever happens on court. And then I had a great season. It’s my first time [at the] WTA Finals. And you know, even the final [didn’t go] my way, but I still got a lot of things to learn.
“This is tennis. It’s like you fight, but not always you are the one. But if you always keep going and keep in that spot, you will get your chance, I think. I mean tennis-wise, of course, always I need to improve. But just stay strong, and let’s see.”
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