Coco Gauff has qualified for the 2023 WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi arabia, following ‍a hard-fought victory in the quarterfinals of the Beijing tournament⁤ on Tuesday. The American overcame a resilient Belinda​ Bencic in a match lasting two ‌hours and 29 minutes.

Gauff initially took an early lead,⁤ establishing a 4-1 ‍advantage in ‌the first​ set. However, Bencic ‌responded strongly, winning⁣ five consecutive games to claim the first set. The second set ⁣saw a tight⁢ contest with both players holding​ serve through the first six games. Bencic⁢ then secured a break to lead‍ 4-3.

Facing a set ​down and a break in the second, Gauff demonstrated resilience, promptly breaking back to level the score at 4-4. After trading holds to reach 5-5 and 6-6, Gauff battled back from a 3-1 deficit in‍ the tie-break to ultimately win the second set.

Momentum shifted in the ⁣deciding set as Gauff broke Bencic’s serve in the opening game and built a commanding 5-1 lead. She then served out the match to secure ⁤her place in the WTA⁣ Finals.

Statistically, Gauff finished with 37 winners against 38 unforced errors, ​while Bencic recorded 18 winners and ‌30 unforced errors.

“It was a tough match,” Gauff stated after the match. “I had chances to close out the ​first set, but overall I’m really happy with​ how I fought. She was being really aggressive. I just tried my best today.”

Regarding her ​qualification for the WTA Finals, Gauff expressed her excitement, saying, ⁣ “I’m happy⁢ to be back ‌in Riyadh. I’m glad⁢ I ⁣was able to do it here.”

WTA ⁢Finals Context

The WTA ⁣Finals⁢ is an annual event ⁢featuring the top eight ‌singles players and doubles teams‌ of the season. ⁢It is indeed ​considered one ​of the most prestigious tournaments in women’s tennis. The 2023 ⁤edition will⁤ be held‌ in Riyadh, marking the first time the event has been hosted in the Middle East.