World No. 3 Coco Gauff claimed her first WTA Finals title in a dramatic 3-6 6-4 7-6 win over Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen at the WTA Finals in Riyadh. This victory marks a major milestone for the 20-year-old, who became the youngest champion of the prestigious season-ending event since Maria Sharapova in 2004.
With this triumph, Gauff has made history as one of the few players to capture titles at every major WTA level. She has now won at least one title in each category: a WTA 250, 500, 1000, a Grand Slam, and the WTA Finals. She joins a select group of players to achieve this feat by age 20, underlining her rapid rise and all-court prowess.
The battle against Zheng highlighted Gauff’s ability to handle high-pressure moments. The match began with Zheng’s early lead after Gauff missed multiple break-point chances. But Gauff’s grit shone in the second set, where she rallied back with breaks to take it 6-4. The final set saw both players exchanging leads before Gauff captured six straight points in the deciding tiebreak.
The final set unfolded with dramatic shifts in momentum. Zheng broke Gauff in the opening game, capitalizing on a double fault, but Gauff answered back with a stunning volley to break in the fourth game. In a relentless exchange, Zheng regained the lead and looked close to victory at 5-3, only for Gauff to break back when Zheng was serving for the match. After saving two match points, Zheng forced a tiebreak, but Gauff surged ahead, winning six consecutive points to seal the victory.
Gauff’s record-breaking win caps a year marked by milestones. This WTA Finals title cements her standing among the sport’s elite and adds to her 50+ match wins this season—a testament to her consistency and growth. With this victory, she continues to carve out a unique place in tennis history and sets herself up as a formidable contender for the years ahead.
Gauff’s hard-fought win not only underscores her resilience but also cements her place among the elite, marking her as a formidable contender for future titles.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
