In the Final Day: American Coco Gauff Wins the Singles Title at the WTA Finals
beth:
On Saturday, November 9, 2024, the WTA Finals concluded at the indoor hall of King Saud University in Riyadh, organized by the Saudi Tennis Federation, under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport, and with the sponsorship of the Public Investment Fund.
The title of "Singles Champion" was awarded to American Coco Gauff for the first time in her career, after she defeated Chinese player Zheng Qinwen in a match that lasted over 3 hours, with a score of two sets to one. Gauff became the first player to win a WTA title in Saudi Arabia.
Coco Gauff commented that the tournament showcased varying levels of skill from all the players, reflecting their positions at the top of the global rankings. She expressed her gratitude to the event organizers, calling the event "fantastic," and thanked her family, team, and her Chinese opponent, Zheng Qinwen.
In the "Doubles" competition, Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski and New Zealand's Erin Routliff claimed the title after defeating Czech player Katerina Siniakova and American Taylor Townsend in straight sets. This victory marked an undefeated record for Dabrowski and Routliff in the tournament.
Erin Routliff mentioned that overcoming numerous challenges throughout the year and their partnership to conquer them was key to their success. She praised the exceptional event organization and expressed hope to return to Saudi Arabia next year.
The 2024 WTA Finals, held from November 2-9, saw more than 21,000 spectators attending thrilling matches in both singles and doubles categories, featuring the world’s top-ranked players.
This tournament was part of a partnership with the WTA that will last until 2027, with a prize pool of $15.2 million USD. The event featured the top 8 women’s singles players, and Russian Daria Kasatkina, ranked 9th in the world, participated in the final stage of the group phase after American Jessica Pegula was forced to withdraw due to injury.