Coco Gauff resisted a late comeback from Aryna Sabalenka as the American won 7-6(4) 6-3 to reach the final in Riyadh.
Gauff’s late surge in form has continued at the WTA Finals as she is into her first final appearance at the event.
The American defeated the world number one in straight sets and will now play Olympic gold medallist Qinwen Zheng for the title.
In the opening set both players had chances in what was a tug of war of momentum with Gauff being punished after failing to take two break points as Sabalenka broke for a 2-1 lead.
Lack of efficiency didn’t last long for Gauff as she immediately broke back for love, producing some dominant returning.
A theme of not converting break points continued later in the set with Gauff failing to convert two break points in the sixth game and once again Sabalenka punished her by breaking for a 6-5 lead.
Normally Sabalenka serving for the set would result in one outcome but the world number one was too passive in crucial moments and Gauff broke back to set up a first set tiebreak.
Gauff was dominant for most of the tiebreak as she won six of the first seven points on offer to take a 6-1 lead.
Three set points came and went but eventually Gauff’s consistent pressure paid off and the American took the opening set 7-6(4).
The world number one was unusually lacklustre in the big points and had nothing to offer on serve in the early stages of the second set as she went 4-1 down.
Having a double break lead was a dangerous scoreline for Gauff and that proved to be the case with the third seed being broken in the sixth game with Sabalenka converting her eighth break point of the game.
Luckily for the American neither player had authority on serve as there was no holds of serve for the rest of the match with Gauff producing a significant result of her season.
Speaking after the match Gauff was happy with how she played, “I’m happy with how I played,” the American was quoted by The Tennis Letter as saying.
“I know going against Aryna it’s always going to be tough. I just tried to stay in it. She’s world #1 for a reason. I’m just happy with how I played today.”
Gauff will now play Qinwen Zheng for the title in Riyadh after the Olympic gold medallist defeated Barbora Krejcikova 6-3 7-5.
Gauff currently leads the head-to-head 1-0 with both players looking for their maiden WTA Finals title.
