Connect with us

CELEBRITY

Gauff Fights Back To Win WTA Title….Read more

Published

on

Gauff Fights Back To Win WTA Title....Read more

 

Contesting the youngest final at the WTA Finals since Maria Sharapova’s win over Serena Williams in 2004, Gauff and Zheng, 22, brought their A-game from the start.

 

 

US’ Coco Gauff celebrates with her winning trophy after defeating China’s Zheng Qinwen in their women’s singles final tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Riyadh on November 9, 2024. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)

Coco Gauff became the youngest player to win the WTA Finals title in 20 years with a gruelling 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) victory over Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in Riyadh on Saturday.

 

 

 

 

The 20-year-old Gauff rallied back from 3-6, 1-3 down, and erased a one-break deficit twice in the decider, to overcome Zheng in three hours and four minutes – the second-longest WTA final in 2024.

“This means a lot to me,” said Gauff.

“This is the first professional women’s tennis event here in Saudi Arabia and I’ll forever be etched in history in that standard.

Gauff Fights Back To Win WTA Title....Read more

“It’s the second biggest title in our sport, so it means a lot. And just to be etched in history forever, it’s pretty cool and hopefully there’s more events here.”

 

 

 

By clinching the trophy, Gauff pocketed a record $4,805,000 – which is the largest ever payout at a professional, sanctioned tour event.

Gauff had knocked out the world’s top two players, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, en route to the final and picked up her fourth top-eight win of the week with an impressive physical performance against Zheng.

 

 

 

The American was unaware she had earned a record prize cheque and laughed when she was told how much she made by a reporter.

“I don’t know what I’ll do with it, that’s a lot of money. What you said? 4.8 (million)? I hope I’m one of the highest paid female tennis players this year, or athletes, so that would be exciting,” she said.

Zheng is just the second Asian woman, behind Li Na in 2013, to reach the singles championship match at a WTA Finals.

 

 

 

 

The Chinese star wraps up her breakthrough 2024 campaign having won 31 of her last 37 matches, and will rise to a career-high number five in the world on Monday.

“The match today came down to just a couple of important points. It was very close. And at the end, when you play these type of matches, it’s not about tennis, it’s about choices on court,” said Zheng.

“It hurts to lose this match of course but I think it’s better I forget it and move on for my next steps.”

 

 

 

 

US’ Coco Gauff celebrates with her winning trophy after defeating China’s Zheng Qinwen in their women’s singles final tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Riyadh on November 9, 2024. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)

Gauff Fights Back To Win WTA Title....Read more

Contesting the youngest final at the WTA Finals since Maria Sharapova’s win over Serena Williams in 2004, Gauff and Zheng, 22, brought their A-game from the start.

It was Zheng who faced more pressure on serve in the opening games, saving a number of break points to keep things on level terms with her American opponent.

 

 

 

The rallies got longer and more physically taxing and it was Gauff who cracked first, double-faulting to hand Zheng a 5-3 lead.

Zheng had to save a break point while serving for the set, which she closed on a netted backhand from Gauff.

China’s Zheng Qinwen hits a return against US’ Coco Gauff during their women’s singles final tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Riyadh on November 9, 2024. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)

 

 

 

The seventh seed kept up her momentum and clinched a fifth game in a row to go up 2-0 early in the second set.

Gauff stopped the bleeding though and fought her way back to level for 3-3, finally claiming her first break of serve on her sixth opportunity of the match. Zheng appeared to have lost a bit of her speed and Gauff took full advantage of the situation.

 

 

 

The American made it four games in a row to put herself in the position to serve for the second set but couldn’t close, as Zheng saved a pair of set points to peg her opponent back and break. Gauff retaliated the next game to scoop the second set and force a decider.

Gauff dropped serve at the start of the final set but pulled off an incredible stretch volley to strike back and even the score 2-2.

Zheng mustered all the power she could, unleashing huge serves and groundstrokes to create another gap and surged ahead 5-3.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gauff would not relent and once again wiped her deficit. Zheng saved two championship points on her own serve in game 12 and carried the match into a deciding tiebreak.

 

 

 

Gauff was dialled in for the breaker, racing to a 6-0 advantage and Zheng couldn’t catch up as the world number three completed a remarkable comeback victory on her fifth opportunity.

The doubles title in Riyadh was secured by Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe, who avenged their Wimbledon final loss to Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova by defeating the American-Czech duo 7-5, 6-3.

CELEBRITY8 hours ago

NFL EARTHQUAKE?! Jerry Jones SECRETLY Plotting to Snatch Shedeur Sanders Behind Closed Doors – Fans STUNNED as Rumors Swirl That Haslam Has Finally LOST CONTROL in a Move Nobody Saw Coming!…..read more

CELEBRITY10 hours ago

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce finally met their first baby. The ultrasound clearly revealed the baby’s gender and they were all smiles when the doctor read the results. Read more

CELEBRITY11 hours ago

The hometown diner where Travis Kelce had his first date with Taylor Swift announced it was closing — until they quietly bought it and reopened it as a soup kitchen. But the menu on the blackboard that first day had a hint at their next chapter…… story below

CELEBRITY13 hours ago

5 MINUTES AGO: Palace CONFIRMS Tragic News About Kate Middleton Health. Andrew cried out in despair: ‘Oh, we are heartbroken…'” SEE MORE BELOW

CELEBRITY1 day ago

When Does The Life of a Showgirl Come Out? All About the Release of Taylor Swift’s 12th Studio Album

CELEBRITY2 days ago

JUST IN:Vivian, the daughter of Tom Brady and his ex-wife Gisele Bündchen, is enjoying a luxurious yacht vacation with her mother and stepfather. The little girl seems quite fond of her ‘new dad’ and revealed ‘something that her stepfather has’ but Tom Brady doesn’t, which made Gisele burst into delighted laughter. Full Story:

CELEBRITY3 days ago

Jason Kelce Highlights “Taylor Swift’s Second Favorite”: Xavier Worthy Gets the Shout

CELEBRITY6 days ago

Record-breaking night: Patrick Mahomes makes NFL history against the Baltimore Ravens

CELEBRITY6 days ago

Did Taylor Swift secretly attend Travis Kelce’s Chiefs game against the Ravens after Selena Gomez’s wedding?

CELEBRITY6 days ago

Selena Gomez’s wedding dress may have quietly revealed Taylor Swift’s designer choice for her wedding with Travis Kelce

Copyright © 2024 USAenquire