Chinese tennis star and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen lost to American Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2) here on Saturday in her WTA Finals debut, narrowly missing the championship.
Since both players held serve in the first seven games of the opening set, the match was fierce from the beginning. In the eighth game, Zheng took advantage of a 4-3 lead and won four points in a row to earn a break. She then held her serve in a difficult game to end the set 6-3.
Both players traded breaks in the second set. Gauff remained close and broke back in the sixth and eighth games to take a 5-3 lead after Zheng broke his serve in the first game. In the ninth game, Zheng battled back to break, but Gauff answered with another break to win the set 6-4.
Zheng kept up her momentum and held her own against Gauff’s unrelenting movement and tenacious defence in the decisive set. Gauff forced the match to a tiebreak and won in a close finish after Zheng attempted to tie the score at 5-3 but was unable to capitalize.
Zheng recognized the good aspects of her performance even though she just missed winning the title.
She talked about it and said: “Yeah, I mean, it’s not a bad match, especially, you know, I see clearly why I lost the match. Then there are a lot of chances during the match, especially since I’m the one mostly who is leading, & I give the match away.”
She added: “I think the positive thing is, I fight whatever happens on the court. And then I had a great season. It’s my first time in the WTA Finals. Even though the final did not go my way, I still had a lot of things to learn. This is tennis. It’s like you fight, but not always you are the one (to win). But if you always keep going and keep in that spot, you will get your chance.”
Qinwen Zheng after tough loss in @WTAFinalsRiyadh Final
“Yea I mean it’s not a bad match, especially you know I see clearly why I lost the match. Then there is a lot of chances during the match, especially I’m the one mostly who is leading & I give the match away”
🎥: WTA, DAZN pic.twitter.com/wiZAEjjjop
— TennisONE App (@TennisONEApp) November 10, 2024
Qinwen Zheng in 2024
Ranked world no.7 (career-high), Qinwen played her last contest on the 9th of November when she surrendered to world no.3 Cori Gauff 3-6 6-4 7-6(2) in the final in Riyadh (draw).
This season Zheng has a compiled 52-18 record. Qinwen conquered 3 titles in 2024 in Palermo, Paris and Tokyo. The Chinese was the runner-up at the Australian Open, Wuhan and Riyadh.
Qinwen Zheng will come up against the world no.226 Alice Tubello in the quarter. They have never played each other up to now in top competitions.
Qinwen clinched 3 titles in 2024 in Palermo, Paris and Tokyo. Zheng got to the final at the Australian Open, in Wuhan (Wuhan Open) and in Riyadh (WTA Finals).
Zheng won 5 titles in her career: 2 on hard courts and 3 on clay courts. (See the list of her titles)
Coco Gauff in 2024
WWLWWLWWWW At the moment ranked no.3, Gauff played her last match on the 9th of November when she beat world no.7 Qinwen Zheng 3-6 6-4 7-6(2) in the final in Riyadh to win her 9th career title.
This year Coco has managed to achieve an overall 54-17 record. Gauff conquered 3 titles in 2024 in Auckland, Beijing and Riyadh.
Coco Gauff will fight against the world no.222 Sinja Kraus in the . They have never competed against each other until now in top competitions.
The American has won 3 titles in 2024 in Auckland, Beijing and Riyadh.
Gauff won 9 titles in her career: 6 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts and 2 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
Qinwen Zheng and Coco Gauff faced off only 2 times. Their actual head to head record is 2-0 for Gauff. Previously, the last time they locked horns, Coco Gauff won 3-6 6-4 7-6(2) in the final in Riyadh (WTA Finals) on the 9th of November 2024.
You can watch the highlights in the following video.
Qinwen Zheng in 2024
Currently ranked no.7 (career-high), the Chinese played her last match on the 9th of November when she was overcome by world no.3 Cori Gauff 3-6 6-4 7-6(2) in the final in Riyadh (draw).
Presently, during this year the Chinese has a composed 52-18 match record. Qinwen clinched 3 titles in 2024 in Palermo, Paris and Tokyo. Qinwen got to the final at the Australian Open, Wuhan and Riyadh.
Qinwen Zheng will come up against the world no.226 Alice Tubello in the quarter. They have never played each other as of now on the main tour.
The Chinese clinched 3 titles in 2024 in Palermo, Paris and Tokyo. Qinwen got to the final at the Australian Open, in Wuhan (Wuhan Open) and in Riyadh (WTA Finals).
The Chinese won 5 titles in her career: 2 on hard courts and 3 on clay courts. (See the list of her titles)
Coco Gauff in 2024
WWLWWLWWWW Now ranked no.3, Gauff played her last match on the 9th of November when she defeated world no.7 Qinwen Zheng 3-6 6-4 7-6(2) in the final in Riyadh to win her 9th career title.
Presently, during this year the American owns a compiled 54-17 match record. Coco clinched 3 titles in 2024 in Auckland, Beijing and Riyadh.
Coco Gauff will come up against the world no.222 Sinja Kraus in the . In the past, they have never competed against each other as of now in top competitions.
Coco clinched 3 titles in 2024 in Auckland, Beijing and Riyadh.
The American won 9 titles in her career: 6 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts and 2 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
Qinwen Zheng and Coco Gauff faced off just 2 times. The head to head is 2-0 for Gauff. The last time they played, Coco Gauff won 3-6 6-4 7-6(2) in the final in Riyadh (WTA Finals) on the 9th of November 2024.
In the following video you can watch the highlights.
