As Coco Gauff faced down a 5-3 third-set deficit towards the end of a relentless, brutal battle, the odds of victory were dissipating with every point. However, in her short career, the American’s grit has been a constant resource when all else has failed. She has found a way to victory from dire circumstances so many times. In one of the biggest finals of her career, Gauff spent almost the entirety of her three hours on-court just fighting to stay in the match against an opponent in the form of her life. Somehow, in the desperate final moments at the end of a brilliant tussle, Gauff rose up to topple Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2) and win the WTA Finals for the first time.
Still just 20, Gauff is the youngest champion at the WTA Finals since a 17-year-old Maria Sharapova won in 2004. She did so the hard way, Âdefeating the two best players, in Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, and then Zheng, the Olympic gold Âmedallist. This victory marks Gauff’s third career title and ninth overall, her 9-1 record in finals a reflection of her immense toughness under pressure.
Related: Coco Gauff beats Zheng Qinwen to WTA Finals title – as it happened
For a week of work in Saudi Arabia, Gauff has also earned a massive $4,805,000 (£3.7m) in prize money, the biggest in women’s sports history and also the most that any tennis player, male or female, has earned at a tour-sanctioned event. Last month, Saudi Arabia paid Jannik Sinner $6m, the largest prize in tennis history, after he won the Six Kings Slam Âexhibition event.
Throughout this year, Zheng’s success has been dictated by her enormous first serve, her heavy topspin forehand and her determination to take the first strike and never lose control. Gauff’s defence, however, forced the pair into bruising, physical rallies throughout the first set. Zheng remained impressively disciplined throughout, patiently dictating the baseline without over-pressing. It was Gauff who began to lose focus, her backhand unusually letting her down as Zheng took the opening set and then carried her momentum to a 6-3, 3-1 lead.
Down 3-2 in set two, Gauff resolved to force herself closer to the baseline and take the initiative. She quickly retrieved the break on her own terms, ending a spectacular return game driven by sustained aggression from her improved forehand before breaking Zheng’s serve two more times to force a final set. Still, the 22-year-old Chinese imposed Âherself again and established a 5-3 lead.
So close to defeat, Gauff completely locked down her game. She gave absolutely nothing away, she maintained immaculate depth with her formerly fickle forehand and she chased down every last ball. While Zheng did well to save two championship points on her serve at 5-6, Gauff was on a mission. She closed out the second biggest title with an emphatic tie-break.
What a fascinating year this has been in Gauff’s blossoming career. She has struggled with her forehand and her serve, she has changed coaches and faced significant scrutiny all the way through. Still, she finishes the year playing some of the best tennis of her career, her forehand holding up so well this week as it absorbed the pace of three of the heaviest hitters in the game. Gauff will head into 2025 perfectly positioned to chase down more significant titles for years to come.
Meanwhile, Cameron Norrie suffered a frustrating 7-6 (6), 6-4 loss to Benjamin Bonzi of France in the final of the Metz ATP 250 event. Despite fighting hard and creating ample chances, the British men’s No 2 was punished for his failure to convert 13 of his 14 break points, including 10 missed break points in a crucial game at 4-4 in the opening set.
Still, Norrie has had a difficult few months after being forced off the tour for nearly three months due to a left forearm injury. After falling out of the top 50 during his layoff, Norrie was extremely frustrated after losing all three of his ATP matches on his return to competition. With four wins and a 15th career ATP final this week, there are ample positives for Norrie to take into the new year as he tries to re-establish himself among the best players in the world.
Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for ‘The Guardian’.
If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.
In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.
Turn on sport notifications.
