COCO Gauff beat Zheng Qinwen in a thrilling final match to win the year-ending WTA Finals tournament title for the first time in her career.
Gauff, who is the third seed, narrowly beat seventh seed Zheng with a score of 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2) in three hours and four minutes, the longest final match at the WTA Finals since time records began to be counted in 2008.
“Stay tough, fight for every point,” said Gauff in the post-match press conference, as broadcast by the WTA, Sunday (10/11).
“I know I almost lost, but, you know, I just tried to keep enjoying the moment honestly, and I’m really proud of myself,” he continued.
In her third appearance at the WTA Finals, Gauff had to overcome a deficit to win over Zheng.
Gauff had to come back one break in the second set, and she was twice down one break in the third, when Zheng served for 5-4.
This is reminiscent of Gauff’s journey to the 2023 United States (US) Open title when she came back from one set down in three matches, Gauff used her courage to rise at every opportunity.
“At the end of the match, when I, like, fell to the floor, I didn’t think I was going to do that,” Gauff said.
“I kind of promised myself that I would only save it for the Grand Slams. But honestly, look at the way it goes
match, I was like, ‘I’m tired. I just want to lie on the ground,'” he added.
Gauff received a prize of US$4,805,000 or around Rp. 75.2 billion for her week in Riyadh, the biggest prize on the WTA Tour.
The American has also achieved world ranking No.3 at the end of the season for the second year in a row.
After losing in the round of 16 while trying to defend her US Open title, Gauff bounced back by winning 12 of her final 14 matches of the year.
By winning the title on the Beijing hard courts last month, Gauff became the first woman in the Open Era to win her first seven tour-level hard court finals.
Gauff has now extended her hardcourt finals record to 8-0, and she improved that mark to 9-1 in tour-level finals
as a whole. (Ant/Z-1)
#Coco #Gauff #Juara #WTA #Finals
**Interview with Coco Gauff Following Her WTA Finals Victory**
*Editor:* Good evening, Coco. Congratulations on your thrilling victory at the WTA Finals! You must be feeling incredible right now.
*Coco Gauff:* Thank you so much! It’s an amazing feeling, and I’m just really proud of what I accomplished today.
*Editor:* It was quite a match against Zheng Qinwen. The final score was 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2). Can you walk us through that last set? It must have been nerve-wracking.
*Coco Gauff:* Absolutely! I knew it was going to be a tough battle. I had to stay tough and fight for every point. It was important for me to keep my composure even when I was down. I just kept telling myself to enjoy the moment, and that really helped.
*Editor:* This match was the longest finals in WTA history, lasting over three hours. How did you manage your stamina throughout such a grueling contest?
*Coco Gauff:* Preparation is key, but it also comes down to mental strength. I focused on each point, rather than the match as a whole. It felt amazing to hear the crowd behind me, which motivated me to push through the tough moments.
*Editor:* Looking back at your journey in the WTA Finals, this is your first title. How does this victory compare to your expectations when you entered the tournament?
*Coco Gauff:* Coming into the finals, I just wanted to play my best tennis. I hadn’t won this title before, so to do it now means the world to me. Every match was a learning experience, and I’m really grateful for the support I’ve received along the way.
*Editor:* And what’s next for you after this victory?
*Coco Gauff:* I want to take this momentum into the off-season. I’ll be training hard to come back even stronger next year. My goal is to keep improving and hopefully achieve even more in my career.
*Editor:* We look forward to seeing what’s next for you, Coco. Thank you for your time, and once again, congratulations on your historic win!
*Coco Gauff:* Thank you! It means a lot.
