Coco Gauff pays consideration to what folks say about her on-line and sometimes enjoys clapping again, so it ought to come as no shock that she took to social media to submit a message after wrapping up 2024 with a WTA Finals win and $4.8 million. verify that he introduced it with him.
“Lol it is secure to say I’ve overcome my suspicions of a nasty season,” Gauff wrote.
After defeating the ladies’s No. 1 and No. 2 seeds – Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek – earlier in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Gauff outlasted Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 ( 2) on Saturday the identical title. That allowed No. 3 Gauff to shut out his 12 months with a 54-17 document and three trophies.
“There have been many incidents. At occasions, it felt good. At occasions, it felt terrible. Principally, it is a regular vacationer 12 months,” the 20-year-old Floridian mentioned in a cellphone interview with the Related Press.
“Unhealthy? Undoubtedly my loss on the US Open. I felt like that was a tricky loss for me, as a result of I double-faulted loads,” Gauff mentioned with a self-deprecating giggle. “It appeared like I used to be shut however I did not give myself the perfect likelihood.”
How did you set apart that double-double, a fourth-round loss to Emma Navarro in September because the defending champion at Flushing Meadows? That is an vital query, as a result of as disappointing because the setback was — the place it occurred, the way it occurred — it marked an vital second.
From there, Gauff parted methods with coach Brad Gilbert and employed Matt Daly to work with Jean-Christophe “JC” Faurel on his group.
And from there, Gauff went 13-2 in his final three tournaments, together with two titles and a run to the semifinals.
“The secret’s if you hit all-time low, it is the one approach you possibly can go up,” Gauff defined. “So at that time, I simply mentioned, ‘I’ve received to get higher at different issues, and I am going to simply attempt that.’ Being a tennis participant, you possibly can’t miss a bunch of tournaments simply to observe — I imply you possibly can, however I did not wish to try this; I did not wish to take that path – so I simply determined to simply accept the losses and win whereas I labored issues out. “
To date, so good.
One vital enchancment: Gauff averaged 4.6 double faults in her 5 matches on the WTA Finals, definitely higher than on the US Open.
In Saturday’s closing, Gauff produced extra aces (5) than double faults (4) and turned in the next forehand proportion (64 to 62) and the next profitable proportion on forehand factors (70 to 62) than Zheng , one of many prime journey suppliers.
There was nothing straightforward about this victory.
Gauff’s streak consists of wins over Sabalenka (within the semifinals) and Swiatek (within the spherical robin), making the American the youngest participant to win in opposition to the highest two ladies in a single match since Maria Sharapova within the US 2006 Open.
“He is a hero,” Sabalenka mentioned of Gauff.
The ultimate was a crucial check of intentions – the primary match of the WTA Finals match to be determined by the third group, and, at 3 hours, 4 minutes, greater than half an hour longer than any title match on the occasion since document preserving. began in 2008.
“If you play this type of sport,” Zheng mentioned, “it is not about tennis, it is about decisions on the court docket.”
At this early stage of his profession, Gauff appears to be making good decisions on and off the court docket. His response, and it goes again to what occurred in New York exhibits that.
As she turned the youngest WTA Finals champion – the highest eight ladies within the sport – since Sharapova was a teen in 2004.
“Taking part in higher,” Gauff mentioned, “makes me really feel extra assured in my sport.”
