World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka’s hopes of securing a spot in the WTA Finals final were dashed in a tense and dramatic semi-final match against the in-form Coco Gauff, who claimed victory with a 7-6(4), 6-3 win in Riyadh. Despite her powerful game, Sabalenka’s performance was marred by a series of unforced errors at key moments, giving Gauff the opportunity to reach her first-ever WTA Finals final. The 20-year-old American will now face the in-form Chinese debutante Zheng Qinwen in what promises to be a thrilling championship match on Saturday.
Gauff’s victory not only handed her a well-earned spot in the final but also kept her dream alive of becoming the first American WTA Finals champion since Serena Williams in 2014. The victory is another impressive chapter in Gauff’s rapidly ascending career, which has already seen her win her first Grand Slam title earlier this year at the French Open.
Sabalenka, who has had a dominant season, could not find her usual rhythm in this semi-final encounter, particularly with her forehand, which has been a cornerstone of her success. She struggled from the start, gifting Gauff numerous points with a barrage of errors. Despite her rocky start, Sabalenka showed her competitive spirit and fought back to break Gauff’s serve and lead 6-5 in the opening set. However, her usual weapon, the forehand, let her down again at a crucial moment. A forehand miss allowed Gauff to break back and force a tie-break. In the breaker, Sabalenka’s errors mounted, and Gauff capitalized to take the first set 7-6(4), leaving Sabalenka visibly frustrated as she walked back to her chair.
The second set began with more of the same, as Sabalenka’s frustration continued to show. She made another unforced error, handing Gauff an early break to lead 2-1. Gauff, on the other hand, was composed and clinical in her play, quickly capitalizing on Sabalenka’s mistakes to extend her lead to 4-1. Despite a brief fightback from Sabalenka, who managed to break Gauff’s serve in a marathon sixth game, she couldn’t sustain her momentum. Gauff was able to regain control and broke Sabalenka once again to love, setting up a match point on Sabalenka’s serve. The world No. 1’s nerves got the better of her, as she hit the net on the crucial point, sealing Gauff’s 6-3 victory and securing her place in the final.
**Coco Gauff’s Comments Post-Match**
After her win, Gauff was understandably elated with her performance, especially against such a tough opponent. “I’m really happy with the way I played,” she said in her on-court interview. “I know Aryna is always going to be a tough match, so I just tried to stay in it. She’s World No. 1 for a reason.”
When asked about the upcoming final, Gauff remained calm and composed, acknowledging that her success in Riyadh was a reward for the great season she’s had. “I’m not really nervous,” she added. “The year-end is just a plus and a reward for the season that I had. Yesterday, I lost, and I was able to brush that off and come in today and play a World No. 1. She was the favorite, and I’m happy I was able to get through.”
Her ability to bounce back from adversity was evident throughout the match, as she continued to fight even when Sabalenka appeared to gain a foothold. Gauff’s resilience and mental toughness were key to her victory, especially when she faced a break of serve and was forced to play a match under pressure. “I was getting broken and breaking back, so I was positive for the most part,” she explained. “Being down a break, I just know I have to play for every point.”
**Tim Henman’s Analysis**
Former British No. 1 Tim Henman, who was watching the match on Sky Sports, praised Gauff for her exceptional fighting spirit. “It was such a tight match and the scoreline says straight sets, but it felt like an absolute epic,” Henman said. “Incredible fighting spirit. I just think it’s such an admirable quality of Gauff’s that she finds a way to get the job done.”
Henman also commented on Gauff’s maturity for her age, highlighting the composure she showed in what was a high-stakes semi-final match. “She has been around for a long time, and she has such a wise head on young shoulders. Sabalenka was throwing everything and the kitchen sink at her, but she kept responding with her athletic ability,” Henman said.
While Gauff’s second serve and forehand have been areas of concern, Henman praised her ability to deliver when it counted. “Her second serve and forehand are fragile, but, having said that, she is in the final and there are a lot of areas she can improve on,” Henman concluded. Gauff’s mental fortitude, combined with her physical prowess, made her one of the most formidable players on the tour this year.
**Zheng Qinwen Makes History**
In the other semi-final, Zheng Qinwen, the Chinese debutante, continued her remarkable breakthrough season by overcoming Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 7-5 to become the second Asian player to reach the WTA Finals final, following in the footsteps of Li Na. Zheng has been in sensational form, having won 30 of her last 35 matches, and looked in complete control as she won the first set comfortably and surged to a 3-0 lead in the second.
However, a lapse in concentration allowed Krejcikova to claw her way back into the match, breaking Zheng’s serve and pushing the match towards a tense conclusion. Despite this, Zheng remained mentally strong and regained her focus, breaking Krejcikova in the 11th game of the second set and closing out the match on her second match point.
After the match, Zheng reflected on her achievement. “It feels so special. This is my first WTA Finals, and right now I’m just in a final. That’s really unbelievable,” she said. “It was tricky because at 3-0 I think I dropped my focus, my performance went down, and then she played more freely. I didn’t panic, I just said, ‘Let’s get back my focus.’ It was a really hard match for me, but it just shows I’m mentally strong.”
**Looking Ahead: A Dream Final**
With both Gauff and Zheng showing incredible resilience and composure throughout their respective semi-finals, the stage is set for what promises to be a dream final at the WTA Finals in Riyadh. Gauff will be aiming for her first-ever WTA Finals title and her second Grand Slam of the year, while Zheng will be looking to cap off her breakthrough season with an unexpected championship win.
Both players have been in excellent form, with Gauff already defeating Zheng once earlier this year on the clay courts of Rome. The final will undoubtedly be a high-quality affair, with both players eager to showcase their talents on one of the biggest stages in tennis. Regardless of the outcome, the 2023 WTA Finals will go down as a memorable tournament with two new stars poised to define the future of women’s tennis.