Gauff deprives Sabalenka of the last dance of the season

Fernando Murciego | 8 Nov 2024 | 20.06

Coco Gauff defeats Sabalenka in the WTA Finals semifinals. Source: Getty

Streaming ATP Madrid live tennis

🎾 Alexander Blockx vs Alexander Zverev

Sign up with Bet365 here
Make your first deposit of at least €5
Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

The last match of the WTA season will not be starred by any of the top two players in the world. Iga Swiatek, eliminated in the group stage, will watch tomorrow's final alongside Aryna Sabalenka, who was eliminated a few minutes ago in the semifinals. A very sad day for the Belarusian, overcome by Coco Gauff in a match where determination and patience once again proved to be key (7-6, 6-3). Two elements that are very difficult to dominate against the American, who knew how to grit her teeth in the hottest moments of the battle. That resilience paid off: a match against Qinwen Zheng this Saturday to determine the champion of the WTA Finals 2024.

With the utmost respect for whatever might happen tomorrow, a good part of the audience surely sat down this afternoon in front of the TV considering this Sabalenka-Gauff match as the anticipated final of these WTA Finals 2024. Two Grand Slam champions, two players in the top 3, two women who have participated in this event several times. And of course, two rivals who always spark fireworks when they face each other. With the head-to-head tied at 4-4, it was evident in the atmosphere that this was not just any match, but one that neither wanted to let slip away. Interestingly, both had come from losing their last group stage match, an anecdote that did not stop them from giving their all from the very first ball.

Just as the one-hour mark of the match was reached, Aryna Sabalenka's forehand went out by a hair's breadth to tip the scales in an exciting first set. Ten minutes ago, Sabalenka was serving with 6-5 and 30-30, a moment where she missed a high volley – one of those that should not be missed – causing her an uncharacteristic disconnection for a World No.1… but very characteristic of someone with the temperament of the Belarusian. Her last gesture before heading to the locker room was smashing a ball against the stadium roof, something that startled Gauff herself as she walked to the bench with the satisfaction of a job well done. Would the best player in the world be left out of the last final of the year?

Certainly, if there is a woman who has proven to be her kryptonite in recent times, it is Cori Gauff, who, although at times struggles to generate power with her forehand, has the consistency from the baseline to unsettle the most powerful hitters on the circuit. However, the power hitter was lacking firepower, with still no 'aces' on the board and only six winners in an hour-long match. Not to mention the unforced errors, where she led the statistics. The feelings were not good for the player from Minsk, who once again saw in the American that unbeatable wall that kept leading her down a dead-end street.

GAUFF'S MASTER MOVE

Amidst all this, Coco Gauff knew very well what could transpire if she lost yesterday against Barbora Krejcikova. Firstly, it meant knocking Iga Swiatek out of the tournament, the opponent who has made her suffer the most in recent years. And secondly, it meant facing off in the semifinals against the winner of the other group, which even if it were Sabalenka, looking at the head-to-head clearly shows it's not the playing style that troubles her the most on the court. I'm not saying she deliberately let herself lose, don't be mean, but surely if this plan crossed her mind at any moment, inside her head it didn't sound too bad.

Beyond all the scenarios we might conjure in our minds, the reality on the court continued completely in favor of the American. Sabalenka, lost against both the score and an empowered opponent, started giving away points and letting go, pained to see a golden opportunity slipping away, frustrated to look at the scoreboard and realize that time was becoming an issue as well. The sixth game of the set was a blockbuster, with seven break points until Aryna finally broke through. What did it achieve? Nothing, because Gauff quickly rectified the flaw to seal her fifth triumph over the Belarusian. Tomorrow, against Qinwen Zheng, for the 2024 master title. All eyes on Pere Riba.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Gauff priva a Sabalenka del último baile de la temporada