On the floor, you’d suppose it was a dominant efficiency from the 2023 U.S. Open champion, and that she capped off a triumphant yr with a cherry on high.
As an alternative, it was fairly the other. Gauff endured a rocky 2024 season that almost led to heartbreak Saturday when she misplaced the primary set and was a down a break within the second towards Zheng Qinwen. The writing was on the wall for Gauff to throw within the towel. However halfway by the second set, a renewed sense of confidence came to visit her as she moved a couple of inches behind the baseline and commenced firing groundstrokes she hesitated to within the early goings. The last-ditch ploy might have backfired attributable to Zheng’s robust service recreation, but it surely paid off as Gauff broke the Chinese language star in three consecutive video games to drive a deciding third set.
Within the closing set, Gauff reverted to a few of her dangerous habits as Zheng seized management with an early break. Whereas Gauff did nicely to win again a break, Zheng would win three consecutive video games whereas dropping simply 4 factors. The Chinese language star was in cruise management. As soon as once more, Gauff confirmed supreme confidence to go on a three-game run of her personal to storm again into the match.
Finally, it was solely becoming that the 2 younger warriors headed right into a tie-break, which Gauff totally dominated to seal her win in Riyadh. In an exciting match that lasted over three hours, Gauff prevailed 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) to seize her first WTA Finals title.
There have been a number of situations on Saturday when Gauff didn’t resemble the younger prodigy who put the tennis world on discover in 2023. Actually, by most of 2024 — which noticed her endure early exits on the U.S. Open, Wimbledon and Paris Olympics — Gauff didn’t seem like the participant who many predicted would succeed Serena Williams because the face of American tennis. Nevertheless, the 20-year-old confirmed large character in remaining afloat by attempting occasions towards Zheng.
Gauff herself acknowledged that the WTA Finals win erased the chatter of her “dangerous season.”
The American walks with $4.8 million in prize cash with the win — the most important purse at any WTA occasion in historical past.
