WTA Finals: Coco Gauff beats world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka to set up Qinwen Zheng final in Riyadh

Coco Gauff put in a sensational display to beat world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka and book a place in the final of the WTA Finals Riyadh, where she will face Qinwen Zheng.

Gauff twice battled back from a break down to take the opening set in a tie-break, before romping through the second to clinch a 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 victory.

Gauff broke Sabalenka on four straight occasions in the second set on her march to the final, allowing for a late wobble when twice dropping her own serve.

“I’m happy with the way I played,” Gauff said after her semi-final win. “I know that coming up against Aryna, she’s always going to be a tough match, she is world No 1 for a reason.

“Zheng is playing great tennis too, but I just need to play confidently, that will help me win. I’m not nervous. Being here is a reward for the season I’ve had.”

The 20-year-old American will take on Zheng in the final, the Olympic champion from the Paris Games this summer cruising past Barbora Krejcikova 6-3 7-5 in the other semi-final.

It caps a remarkable run for the Chinese 22-year-old who is making her maiden appearance at the WTA Finals.

Gauff beat Zheng in the pair’s only previous match, on clay in Rome earlier this year.

Henman: It’s going to be a dream final

Sky Sports’ Tim Henman:

“Incredible fighting spirit [from Gauff]. It was such a tight match and the scoreline says straight sets, but it felt like an absolute epic.

“I just think it’s such an admirable quality of Gauff’s that she finds a way to get the job done. It feels like she has been around for a long time… she’s got such a wise head on young shoulders.

“Sabalenka was throwing everything and the kitchen sink at her but she keeps responding with her athletic ability.

“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.

“Gauff understands where she is at in her career. She’s only 20 and has already won a Grand Slam.

“It was such an amazing match and it’s going to be a dream final.”

Zheng powers into final on WTA Finals debut

Zheng, who has won 30 of her last 35 matches on tour, continued her remarkable recent form in powering past this year’s Wimbledon champion Krejcikova.

The Czech had been the surprise package of the Finals, beating Gauff in her final pool match on Thursday to book her place in the last four, eliminating defending champion Iga Swiatek in the process.

Zheng looked in complete control when up a set and 3-0 ahead in the second but one poor service game let Krejcikova back in and the two-time Grand Slam winner almost forced a decider.

But Zheng again wrestled the momentum her way with the crucial break of serve in the 11th game of the second set and went on to take her second match point.

“It feels so special,” Zheng said in her on-court interview afterwards. “This is my first WTA Finals and I’m in a final. That’s really unbelievable.

“It was tricky because at 3-0 I think I dropped my focus, my performance went down and then she played more free.

“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.”

Zheng is the second Asian player to reach the final of the season-ending event after her compatriot Li Na, and the youngest since Petra Kvitova in 2011.

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

WTA Finals Riyadh – (November 2-9)
Belgrade Open – ATP 250 (November 3-9)
Moselle Open, Metz – ATP 250 (November 3-9 – Cameron Norrie in semi-final action)
Nitto ATP Finals, Turin – (November 10-17)

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