When Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff faced off just a month ago in Wuhan, Gauff initially appeared to have the upper hand, methodically building a set and break advantage. However, her serve suddenly faltered, and despite a valiant effort, she was undone by an astonishing 21 double faults. Despite being a fixture on the tour for half a decade, it's easy to overlook that Gauff, at just 20 years old, is still developing and refining her game.
This week in Riyadh, Gauff showcased the fruits of her progress, arriving with notable adjustments to her playing style. These changes have allowed her to deliver some of the finest tennis of her career. On Friday, she delivered a masterful performance against Sabalenka, the world No. 1, securing a spot in the WTA Finals final with a stunning 7-6(4), 6-3 victory.
In the final, Gauff will square off against Zheng Qinwen, the Olympic gold medalist, in a clash between the two youngest players in the top 10. Zheng extended her breakout season by reaching the WTA Finals final for the first time, fending off a spirited comeback from Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova to seal a hard-fought 6-3, 7-5 win. The 22-year-old is set to achieve a new career-high ranking of at least No. 5 following her impressive run in Saudi Arabia.
Throughout Gauff's young career, her forehand, struck with an extreme western grip, has often come under scrutiny for its vulnerability against top-tier opponents. However, this week, her weaker groundstroke has been notably solid. Following her split with former coach Brad Gilbert after the US Open and the subsequent hiring of Matt Daly, Gauff has also altered her grip in her service motion.
These improvements were evident in her rematch against Sabalenka. In a closely contested opening set, Gauff served effectively and adeptly absorbed Sabalenka's powerful shots with her forehand, maintaining consistent depth. She made the court appear narrow for Sabalenka through her exceptional defensive play. Despite Sabalenka serving for the set, Gauff broke back and then dominated the tiebreak, refusing to let her momentum slip. This time, she committed just two double faults.
Over the past few months, Sabalenka has been at the peak of her career, winning her third grand slam title at the US Open and capturing WTA 1000 events in Cincinnati and Wuhan, winning 21 of 22 matches. However, for once, she appeared fatigued and tense, unable to match Gauff's intensity. 2024 has been Sabalenka's best season, but she ends the year with a challenging loss.
Meanwhile, Zheng's journey to the final in Riyadh is a testament to her remarkable consistency since the summer. Although she reached her first grand slam final at the Australian Open this year, her true breakthrough came with her Olympic singles gold medal win in Paris, where she upset Iga Swiatek. Since then, her momentum has only grown. With a 31-5 record since mid-July, Zheng aims to cap off a spectacular season with another significant title.
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