{"id":2822,"date":"2024-11-07T15:58:21","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T15:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssoccer.uk\/?p=2822"},"modified":"2024-11-07T15:58:21","modified_gmt":"2024-11-07T15:58:21","slug":"2822-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssoccer.uk\/?p=2822","title":{"rendered":"Tim Henman explains what he absolutely \u2018loves\u2019 about Coco Gauff after her WTA Finals win over Iga Swiatek"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Coco<\/p>\n

A gusty and determined Coco Gauff survived an erratic Iga Swiatek display to remain unbeaten at the WTA Finals.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coco Gauff\u00a0made a major breakthrough at the WTA Finals on Tuesday by earning just her second career win in 13 attempts over defending champion\u00a0Iga Swiatek.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Swiatek\u2019s loss also confirms Aryna Sabalenka as the year-end WTA No. 1, ending the 23-year-old\u2019s two-year streak.<\/p>\n

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\"Coco<\/div>
Photo by Artur Widak\/NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tim Henman highlights what impressed him about Coco Gauff\u2019s win<\/h2>\n

Entering the match having only won one match in 12 against the Pole, Gauff\u2019s chances were made more promising due to Swiatek\u2019s lack of matches since the US Open.<\/p>\n

Despite both players having undergone a coaching change after New York disappointment, Swiatek hasn\u2019t played since, while\u00a0Gauff picked up the Beijing title\u00a0and reached the last four in Wuhan.<\/p>\n

Having struggled with her serve and forehand of late, with Gauff\u2019s 21 double-faults in the Wuhan Open semi-final earning her an\u00a0unwanted WTA 2024 record, the American has remained true to her resilient roots.<\/p>\n

An admirable amount of resolve the former British number one\u00a0Tim Henman\u00a0picked up on, he couldn\u2019t hold back the compliments for the 20-year-old in his post-match analysis.<\/p>\n

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He told\u00a0Sky Sports: \u201cI love her [Gauff] competitive spirit because that\u2019s hard to watch at times. When you are struggling to get into your play, it\u2019s almost like the serve is a hinderance instead of a weapon.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed, the match wasn\u2019t pretty at times with the pair trading 80 unforced errors between them \u2013 47 off Swiatek\u2019s racquet.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Speaking specifically about her forehand, Henman added: \u201cI 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\u2019t really like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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