Coco Gauff comes out victorious from a crazy match, where she seemed on the brink of the abyss twice, beating Qinwen Zheng 3-6 6-4 7-6(2) and completing an epic comeback that, at the end of the third set, seemed impossible. The young American won her first title at the WTA Finals, her 9th in her career and her 3rd of the season, overturning a 2024 that had experienced some ups and downs.
After a good first game on 40-40, the Chinese held her serve with difficulty but made it 1-0 with a fantastic forehand on the line. The balance is still on 3-3: a beautiful backhand passing shot with Gauff at the net is worth 30-30. Then a series of errors in a still very hard-fought match. Advantages and parity, but Gauff forces the Chinese player’s forehand into the net. The clutch-moment of the first set comes in the 8th game, when a blackout by Gauff made up of three errors and a double fault sends the Chinese player to serve for the set. No sooner said than done: Qinwen closes the first set 6-3.
Coco Gauff becomes the first American woman to win the WTA Finals since Serena Williams in 2014.
Proud.
🇺🇸❤️ pic.twitter.com/7Y0PxrTv0f
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 9, 2024
And the second set opens just as the first one ended: a disconsolate Gauff gifts another…
