‘Feels great’: Coco Gauff relishing return to defend her title at WTA Finals in Riyadh

DUBAI: When an 18-year-old Coco Gauff qualified for her first WTA Finals in 2022, she lost all six matches she played across singles and doubles that week in Fort Worth, Texas.

Two years later in Riyadh, Gauff knocked out the world’s top two, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, en route to the final, and overcame China’s Zheng Qinwen in a gruelling three-hour title decider to be crowned WTA Finals champion.

She is the youngest to win the prestigious tournament since Maria Sharapova won it as a 17-year-old in 2004, and pocketed a record $4.8 million paycheck for her efforts.

Gauff will be back in Riyadh next month to defend her crown, having secured a fourth consecutive qualification for the WTA Finals.

A constant presence in the world’s top 10 for the past three years, Gauff takes pride in her consistency, and her relentless pursuit of greatness.

“I think it means a lot to me,” Gauff told Arab News from the Wuhan Open this week.

“I think it just shows that I’m definitely not falling behind and I want to continue to improve and get higher in the ranking points and do well.

“For me, just qualifying for the finals, especially a bit early — I consider this early, not having to play the other tournaments, just feels great. This is a prestigious tournament, one that I always look forward to playing and being a part of.”

Gauff’s journey since her 2022 finals debut has been anything but conventional. But those following the American’s rise from teen prodigy to two-time Grand Slam champion would expect nothing less from a player who exploded onto the tour at the age of 15, declaring she wanted to be the greatest of all time.

Looking back at her 0-6 run in Fort Worth, Gauff chuckles at the mere thought of it.

“I remember I