Coco Gauff rallies against Zheng Qinwen for first WTA Finals title in Riyadh

Down a set and twice down a break in the deciding set, Coco Gauff pulled off a spectacular comeback against Zheng Qinwen to claim her first WTA Finals victory on Saturday.

Making her third appearance at the season-ending event, Gauff defeated the Chinese No. 7 seed 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2) over the course of three highly entertaining hours. The 20-year-old became the youngest player to win the WTA Finals since Maria Sharapova (17 years, 210 days) in 2004.

Gauff is set to take home $4,805,000 for her victory—the largest payout at a WTA Tour-event—while runner-up Zheng will take home $2,305,000.

Read More: WTA Finals Preview: Coco Gauff, Zheng Qinwen face off for first year-end crown in Riyadh

She had to mount a massive effort to get there, defeating the tournament’s No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, respectively, on her way to the final. Gauff also fought past Jessica Pegula and Babora Krejcikova in the Orange Group without dropping a set.

Gauff booked her second meeting of the year with Zheng in the final, having won in straight sets on clay in the quarterfinals of Rome. But their history dates back to their days as juniors, with Gauff also defeating Zheng in the 2018 Orange Bowl final.

A few years on, Gauff, 20, and Zheng, 22 became the finalists with the youngest combined age (42 years and 271 days) at the WTA Finals since Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams’ 2004 title clash.

Gauff’s victory sees her join an elite list, becoming only the fourth American to win the WTA Finals before turning 21, following in the footsteps of Chris Evert (1972-73, 75), Tracy Austin (1980) and Serena Williams (2001).

She’s also the first player in the Open era to win each of their first eight WTA event finals on hard courts.

More to follow...