Coco Gauff edged out defending WTA Finals champion Iga Swiatek to guide her spot within the semi-finals of the 2024 match.
The 20-year-old American star triumphed 6-3, 6-4, beating his rival for the second time in 13 matches.
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He took victory in a reasonably peculiar match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and survived regardless of committing 11 double faults.
Gauff’s serve has been a serious speaking level this 12 months, however back-to-back wins on the WTA Finals recommend progress is being made and a training change was the suitable resolution.
His drop in kind and fourth-round exit on the US Open earlier this 12 months led Gauff to swap Brad Gilbert for Matt Daly.
It wasn’t all plain crusing on Tuesday, because the straight-sets victory suggests, with six double faults in her first two service video games of the second set threatening to present the momentum again to her opponent.
However world No. 2 Swiatek struggled along with her normally spectacular return of serve, whereas her forehand additionally collapsed within the second half of the match.
The victory was Gauff’s first over her rival because the 2023 Cincinnati Open and snapped the Pole’s six-match profitable streak within the WTA Finals.
Talking afterwards, he revealed that he tailored his forehand to scale back his errors mid-match and obtain victory.
“I positively modified as a result of I used to be quick on time, so I used to be attempting to not give him as many unforced errors,” Gauff mentioned.
“I used to be simply attempting to be powerful and play deep. The circumstances are powerful and the altitude is hard.
“I used to be attempting to not make too many unforced errors. It is only a sport of cat and mouse in these circumstances.
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“If you’re too aggressive typically you may fail. It was a bit unusual.
“You may’t change the previous. I am within the course of of adjusting issues. There shall be good days and dangerous days.”
By reserving her place within the final 4 of the WTA Finals, Gauff is now the youngest participant to achieve consecutive semi-finals since Caroline Wozniacki in 2009-10.
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She is the youngest American to take action since Tracy Austin in 1979-80.
Gauff now appears to be like to take not less than one step additional than final 12 months and attain the ultimate.
In the meantime, Swiatek fell to 1-1 in Group Orange and can face Jessica Pegula in a US Open quarterfinal rematch.
Her loss to Gauff ensured that Aryna Sabalenka will end the season as world No. 1 on the finish of the 12 months for the primary time.
