She secured world primary and two from Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek en path to the ultimate, and piled the stress on her opponent within the early levels towards Zheng.
In what was solely their second assembly – Gauff received the primary in straight units in Rome earlier this 12 months – Zheng, 22, was pressured to avoid wasting 4 break factors, together with three in an exciting fifth recreation.
However it was the seventh Chinese language staff to get a vital break on the balcony, a double fault by Gauff after a hat-trick of unforced errors gave Zheng the benefit to seal the set when Gauff hit the web.
Zheng’s serve is considered one of his greatest weapons, however he struggled to show himself towards Gauff, with solely the primary of his 4 aces coming early within the second set after he broke Gauff once more.
With renewed dedication, the People restored parity in a dominant return recreation, after which the 2 traded breaks once more. However a distraught Gauff broke Zheng’s serve within the third recreation in a row to take the match to a decider.
Early within the third set, Gauff saved three break factors earlier than conceding as Zheng took management of her serve – nevertheless it was short-lived.
Gauff quickly broke again, his good play on the web rewarded as Zheng despatched a forehand lengthy, earlier than discovering one other love.
Zheng then received three video games in a row, dropping simply 4 factors, and appeared to be preventing for victory. However a miscue within the build-up introduced Gauff again into competition.
That was the beginning of a three-game successful streak for the American, whose run got here to a halt as Zheng saved two match factors to make sure a tiebreaker, which Gauff received outright.
The victory marks his third title of the 12 months wherein he didn’t attain a solo Grand Slam closing, as his greatest runs got here on the Australian Open and on Roland Garros clay, when he was knocked out within the semi-finals.
Fourth-round exits adopted at Wimbledon and New York, the place he has been defending his first title since 2023.
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