November 08, (THEWILL) – Coco Gauff advanced to her first WTA Finals championship match after defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(4) 6-3 in Riyadh on Friday.
The American tennis star demonstrated exceptional skill throughout the semi-final contest, which set up an intriguing final against China’s Zheng Qinwen.
The opening set proved competitive, with both players exchanging early breaks before heading to a tiebreak.
Gauff established a commanding 6-1 lead in the tiebreak, though Sabalenka mounted a brief comeback before the American clinched the first set. The 20-year-old then maintained momentum in the second set, building a 4-1 advantage.
Despite Sabalenka retaining her year-end world number-one ranking, the Belarusian struggled to contain her frustration during crucial moments of the match.
A particularly intense sixth game of the second set saw Gauff save seven break points, ultimately prevailing before closing out the match with conviction.
In the earlier semi-final, seventh-seeded Zheng Qinwen overcame Czech player Barbora Krejcikova 6-3 7-5.
The Chinese competitor, making her debut at the WTA Finals, established early control in both sets before weathering a spirited comeback attempt from Krejcikova in the second set.
The championship match between Gauff and Zheng takes place on Saturday, with both players seeking their first WTA Finals title in Saudi Arabia.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
