A gusty and determined Coco Gauff survived an erratic Iga Swiatek display to remain unbeaten at the WTA Finals.
Coco Gauff made a major breakthrough at the WTA Finals on Tuesday by earning just her second career win in 13 attempts over defending champion Iga Swiatek.
The 20-year-old maintained her aggression throughout and, despite a rough patch with her serve in the second set, stayed composed to secure a 6-3, 6-4 victory over the error-prone Pole.
This win moves Gauff to a 2-0 record at the season-ending tournament in Riyadh, after having defeated compatriot Jessica Pegula in her opener.
Swiatek’s loss also confirms Aryna Sabalenka as the year-end WTA No. 1, ending the 23-year-old’s two-year streak.
Tim Henman highlights what impressed him about Coco Gauff’s win
Entering the match having only won one match in 12 against the Pole, Gauff’s chances were made more promising due to Swiatek’s lack of matches since the US Open.
Despite both players having undergone a coaching change after New York disappointment, Swiatek hasn’t played since, while Gauff picked up the Beijing title and reached the last four in Wuhan.
Having struggled with her serve and forehand of late, with Gauff’s 21 double-faults in the Wuhan Open semi-final earning her an unwanted WTA 2024 record, the American has remained true to her resilient roots.
An admirable amount of resolve the former British number one Tim Henman picked up on, he couldn’t hold back the compliments for the 20-year-old in his post-match analysis.
He told Sky Sports: “I love her [Gauff] competitive spirit because that’s hard to watch at times. When you are struggling to get into your play, it’s almost like the serve is a hinderance instead of a weapon.
“But the way she has been able to go out there, struggling on serve, with such an awful head-to-head record and still find a way to win, I think just speaks volumes about her character.”
Indeed, the match wasn’t pretty at times with the pair trading 80 unforced errors between them – 47 off Swiatek’s racquet.
However, the American dug her heels in and willed herself over the line, holding to love for the first time in the match to go 5-4 up.
Speaking specifically about her forehand, Henman added: “I loved the way Gauff changed the shape on her forehand, that height down the line, and the slice forehand, it looked kind of ugly at times, but got the rhythm and Swiatek didn’t really like it.”
Controversy over the WTA Finals’ lack of crowds has added to the existing scrutiny levelled at the event.
Adding to the discourse, Henman has criticized the WTA Finals for its lack of atmosphere – an assessment in keeping with many disgruntled fans who have aired their complaints over the sparse crowds.
However, Gauff insisted she relished the atmosphere in Riyadh, thanking the crowd for their support after her statement win.
Coco Gauff’s grit will carry her to the WTA Finals crown
While Sabalenka remains the hot favorite, having not dropped a set so far, Gauff has shown she can hold her own, pushing Sabalenka to three sets in Wuhan even amid 21 double faults.
Unlike the focus on Swiatek and Sabalenka in the battle for the number one ranking, Gauff has managed to fly under the radar, allowing her to concentrate fully on her game.
This freedom seems to have only sharpened her focus, perfectly demonstrated by her hard-fought win over her most feared rival.
Gauff’s sheer determination and grit have carried her this far, and she seems poised to harness that momentum for a strong finish.
With her confidence growing gradually, there’s every reason to believe she can take this energy all the way to the title.
About The Author
