Gauff Wins To Stay In Contention At Wta Finals

Coco Gauff eliminated Jasmine Paolini successful an awesome straight-set triumph to guarantee she remains successful contention astatine nan WTA Finals successful Riyadh.

Defending champion Gauff recorded 17 double faults and made 75 unforced errors successful her opening conclusion by Jessica Pegula connected Sunday.

But nan American world number 3 demonstrated her title credentials pinch a connection triumph 2 days later, beating Paolini 6-3 6-2 earlier her last group lucifer connected Thursday against world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

"I'm really happy pinch really I played today, it was decidedly a turnaround from my first match," said 21-year-old Gauff.

"It's nan beauty of this tourney that you person different chance to beryllium yourself."

Sabalenka and American 5th seed Jessica Pegula will some purpose to suffice from nan Stefanie Graf Group erstwhile they meet later connected Tuesday.

The starring 8 women's players successful singles and doubles are competing successful Saudi Arabia, pinch nan tourney having £12m ($15.5m) successful prize money.

Elena Rybakina became nan first subordinate to confirm her spot successful nan knockout stages by defeating world number 2 Iga Swiatek successful nan Serena Williams Group connected Monday.

French Open champion Gauff reset admirably pursuing her scrappy show against Pegula and reasserted herself arsenic a title challenger pinch this coagulated performance.

She produced conscionable 3 double faults and reduced her full unforced errors by complete half (30), pinch her much accordant serving successful peculiar providing a important assurance boost earlier her gathering pinch Sabalenka.

Displaying calmness and assurance from nan backmost of nan court, Gauff appeared mostly successful power aft taking complaint of nan opening set.

After breaking world number 8 Paolini to emotion astatine nan first opportunity, Gauff withstood 3 break points to found a commanding 3-0 lead - and struck backmost instantly erstwhile nan Italian offered a response, earlier serving retired nan set.

With 29-year-old Paolini's guidance fading, Gauff converted nan first break constituent of nan 2nd group pursuing a superb forehand winner, earlier sealing triumph pinch a ascendant five-game streak.

"I was conscionable trying to play relaxed," said Gauff. "I played a WTA Finals wherever I mislaid each 3 matches and I was wished to not make a repetition of that.

"I cognize coming was important to support myself successful nan tournament."