PASSING every test put before her, American young gun Coco Gauff is now a WTA Finals champion. The 22-year-old needed more than three hours to finally put away an in-form Qinwen Zheng and lift the prestigious trophy in Riyadh aloft.

In what was the longest WTA Finals decider in 13 years, world number three Gauff came from a set down to defeat Zheng 3-6 6-4 7-6 in three hours and four minutes. it marked her ninth career title and massive 54th victory for the title. The invite-only tournament was her third trophy of 2024 behind Auckland and Beijing to add to her dominant 2023 season which saw her claim a massive four titles including the US Open.

Both Gauff and Zheng have been incredible throughout 2024, playing a high volume of matches compared to a lot of their peers. They have each won a recent title – Gauff getting up in the China Open and Zheng at the Pan Pacific Open – and were brilliant throughout the WTA Finals. Though neither was unbeatable – both lost a match in Riyadh – they managed to find their best tennis and put on a show for the fans.

Gauff said she played on edge throughout the match, given the contest could have gone either way for the most part.

“Just staying resilient, fighting for every point,” Gauff said post-match. “I know I was like a couple points away from losing, but, you know, I just tried to stay in the moment, honestly, and I’m really proud of myself.”

Despite being just 20 years of age, Gauff was at her third straight WTA Finals event and showed her experience over the first-time invitee Zheng despite the Chinese talent having turned 22 last month. Gauff said relief swept over her when she completed the comeback.

“At the end of the match, when I, like, fell on the floor, I didn’t think I was going to do that,” Gauff said. “I kind of, like, made a promise to myself that I will only save that for Grand Slams. “But honestly, to the way the match went, I was like, ‘I’m just tired. I just want to lay on the ground.'”

Gauff out-aced the powerful Zheng five to four, and won 70 per cent of her first serve points, a crucial stat to beat Zheng in, with her opponent down at 63 per cent. In the end just eight points separated the pair (117-109) with Gauff’s 7-2 third set tiebreaker closing out the contest well after both combatants broke five times apiece.

Gauff won 12 of her last 14 matches to close out 2024, while Zheng won 31 of 37 since Wimbledon, with two titles and an Olympic gold medal in that period. The world number seven was appreciate of all the fans who followed her to Riyadh.

“I want to say thanks to everyone who came tonight,” she said. “It was a long week. “Thanks to all the staff. “Thanks to my team because you guys try to keep me healthy. “I’ve been through a lot of matches this year, but I’m still on the court fighting. “Thanks to you. “I wouldn’t be here without you.

“Congrats to the champion. “It’s your first title here. “It wish you have a great future.”