Cocoโฃ Gauff Secures Spot in WTA Finalsโ After Quarterfinal Victory in Beijing
Published: October 26, 2023
Coco Gauff has qualified for the 2023 WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi arabia, following โa hard-fought victory in the quarterfinals of the Beijing tournamentโค on Tuesday. The American overcame a resilient Belindaโ Bencic in a match lasting two โhours and 29 minutes.
Gauff initially took an early lead,โค establishing a 4-1 โadvantage in โthe firstโ set. However, Bencic โresponded strongly, winningโฃ five consecutive games to claim the first set. The second set โฃsaw a tightโข contest with both players holdingโ serve through the first six games. Bencicโข then secured a break to leadโ 4-3.
Facing a set โdown 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 inโ the tie-break to ultimately win the second set.
Momentum shifted in the โฃdeciding 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 โคher place in the WTAโฃ Finals.
Statistically, Gauff finished with 37 winners against 38 unforced errors, โwhile Bencic recorded 18 winners and โ30 unforced errors.
“It was a tough match,” Gauff stated after the match. “I had chances to close out the โfirst set, but overall I’m really happy withโ how I fought. She was being really aggressive. I just tried my best today.”
Regarding her โqualification for the WTA Finals, Gauff expressed her excitement, saying, โฃ “I’m happyโข to be back โin Riyadh. I’m gladโข I โฃwas able to do it here.”
WTA โขFinals Context
The WTA โฃFinalsโข is an annual event โขfeaturing the top eight โsingles players and doubles teamsโ of the season. โขIt is indeed โconsidered one โof the most prestigious tournaments in women’s tennis. The 2023 โคedition willโค be heldโ in Riyadh, marking the first time the event has been hosted in the Middle East.
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