US Open champion Coco Gauff earned the first WTA Finals victory of her career on Monday night, breezing past three-time major runner-up Ons Jabeur 6-0, 6-1 in a round-robin match interrupted for a little more than an hour by rain. Gauff, a 19-year-old from Florida, lost 0-3 in singles in the 2022 season finale.
“After the rain delay, I was just focused on keeping my foot on the gas pedal,” said Gauff, who next will face Iga Swiatek, a 7-6 (3), 6-0 winner against Marketa Vondrousova. “I’m just happy,” Gauff said, “to finally get a win here in this event.”
“It wasn’t my decision. But we had to end the partnership. But I had a great time with him and I wish him the best in this next chapter,” Gauff explained. “If it was up to me, I would have loved to have him here. But you know, things happen. Life happens. So no bad terms on our end”. Also read: Rafael Nadal Announces Comeback at Australian Open 2024
Gauff swiftly took the first seven games against Jabeur, utilising a 9-0 advantage in wins to help establish a 29-10 advantage in points before play was interrupted due to inclement weather. When they restarted, Jabeur held serve to win her opening game and tie the second set at one all. But she was not going to get another.
It wasn’t until the last game that Jabeur finally earned a break point — three in all. Gauff saved each of those and then converted her fourth match point when Jabeur sent a forehand wide. “Not my best day on the court,” Jabeur said. “But, yeah, that’s tennis sometimes, unfortunately.” Also read: Coco Gauff Receives A Marriage Proposal During The Match
The reigning Wimbledon winner, left-handed Vondrousova, broke in three of Swiatek’s first four service games and served for the set at 5-2 and 5-4. Swiatek, on the other hand, began to turn things around, scoring 13 of 17 points in a row. She took a 6-5 lead after a four-game winning streak.
Swiatek, who won the French Open in June for her third Grand Slam title, is ranked No. 2 and has a chance to overtake Aryna Sabalenka at No. 1, depending on their results this week. Sabalenka is also among the players who have said the court built for the event is not satisfactory. Vondrousova called it “honestly very bad.”
“I just wanted to be more precise and more solid and not play risky,” Swiatek said. “She was playing amazing,” Vondrousova said, “and there was nothing much to do.”
Coco Gauff has won six WTA Tour singles titles, including a Major at the 2023 US Open, and eight doubles titles. Gauff has career-high rankings of world No. 3 in singles and of world No. 1 in doubles by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). Also read: Rebecca Peterson Net Worth 2023, Prize Money, Endorsements, Cars, Houses, Charities, Etc.