Tennis

Coco Gauff's stunning upset over Iga Swiatek at the 2024 WTA Finals has sent shockwaves through the tennis world. The American teenager, who had lost 11 consecutive matches to the former world No. 1, defied the odds to triumph 6-3, 6-4 and secure a spot in the semifinals.Gauff's victory was not only a personal triumph but also a significant moment for the sport. It marked the first time she had defeated Swiatek, who has dominated women's tennis in recent years. The win also guaranteed that Aryna Sabalenka will end the season as world No. 1.The match was a tale of two sets. Gauff dominated the first, breaking Swiatek's serve twice to take it 6-3. The second set was more competitive, with Swiatek twice taking the lead. However, Gauff showed resilience and determination to break back both times. She eventually sealed the victory with a powerful forehand swing volley that flew long.Gauff's performance was particularly impressive given her struggles with her serve in recent months. She committed nine double faults in the match, but she was able to overcome this weakness with her aggressive groundstrokes and relentless pressure on Swiatek.The win is a major boost for Gauff, who has had a mixed season since her breakout 2023 campaign. She reached the semifinals of the Australian Open and Roland Garros but struggled with her serve and forehand throughout the summer. However, she has shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, winning the China Open and now reaching the semifinals of the WTA Finals.Gauff's victory is a reminder that anything is possible in sports. Despite her previous struggles against Swiatek, she never gave up and ultimately triumphed. Her performance is an inspiration to young athletes everywhere and a testament to the power of hard work and determination.

Coco Gauff, the reigning US Open champion, has recently embarked on a culinary journey as she adjusts to living independently. In a candid interview, she shared her successes and mishaps in the kitchen, highlighting the challenges and rewards of cooking and baking.Gauff's culinary adventures began after she moved out of her parents' home earlier this year. Determined to master the art of cooking, she has experimented with various dishes, including salmon teriyaki bowls and pasta with chicken. However, her attempts at baking have not always been as successful.One of Gauff's favorite treats, banana bread, proved to be a particular challenge. Overripe bananas and a lack of precision led to a disappointing result. "I tried to freestyle it, without it," she said. "And that came out awful."The experience taught Gauff a valuable lesson about the difference between cooking and baking. "I think baking is, you have to be more precise than cooking," she said. "So I won't freestyle next time."Despite her setbacks, Gauff remains enthusiastic about her culinary pursuits. She is eager to expand her repertoire and improve her skills. As she continues to navigate the challenges of living independently, cooking has become a source of both frustration and fulfillment.

Coco Gauff, the world's third-ranked tennis player, made a resounding statement in her opening match at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She defeated fellow American Jessica Pegula in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, in an all-American round-robin clash.This victory marked several significant milestones for Gauff. Firstly, it snapped Pegula's impressive 14-match winning streak against American opponents. Pegula had not lost to a compatriot since falling to Madison Keys at the 2022 US Open.Secondly, it was Gauff's biggest win of the year. Her victory over the No. 6-ranked Pegula surpassed her previous best win over No. 6 Marketa Vondrousova at last year's WTA Finals.Most notably, it was Gauff's 20th career Top 10 win, a remarkable achievement for a player who is still only 20 years old. She recorded her first Top 10 win as a 15-year-old in 2019, defeating No. 8 Kiki Bertens en route to the title in Linz.Gauff's Top 10 wins have come against some of the biggest names in women's tennis, including Naomi Osaka, Aryna Sabalenka, Ashleigh Barty, Paula Badosa, Karolina Pliskova, Maria Sakkari, Iga Swiatek, Karolina Muchova, Ons Jabeur, and Vondrousova.This victory is a testament to Gauff's exceptional talent and her ability to perform at the highest level. She is one of the most promising young players in the world and is poised to achieve even greater success in the years to come.

Coco Gauff, the 20-year-old tennis sensation, continues to make waves both on and off the court. Recently, she was recognized as the most marketable tennis player in the world by SportsPro and has now been mentioned in a song by renowned rapper Tyler, The Creator.In the build-up to his upcoming album release, Tyler, The Creator dropped a new single titled "Thought I Was Dead," which features the lyrics "B-tch, you ain't Coco Gauff, you can't serve me." Gauff expressed her excitement on social media, stating, "Absolutely insane... Thank you!"While Gauff's serve has been a topic of discussion, she remains optimistic about improving it. She recently added Matt Daly to her coaching team to address the issue. In her last match at the Wuhan Open, she served 21 double faults, prompting empathy from her opponent, Aryna Sabalenka."There are moments where you just want to leave the court," Gauff admitted. "But I didn't want to go into that mentality. I know she (Sabalenka) had a similar issue, so it gives me confidence."Despite the challenges, Gauff is confident in her ability to improve her serve. "I found the solution, I just didn't have time to work on it," she said.As Gauff prepares for the WTA Finals Riyadh, fans can anticipate her continued growth and the release of Tyler, The Creator's new album, "Chromakopia," on October 28.

Tennis Stars Dominate SportsPro's Most Marketable Athletes ListFor the second consecutive year, Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic have emerged as the most marketable tennis players globally, according to SportsPro's 50 Most Marketable Athletes of 2024. The prestigious annual list features eight tennis players, with Gauff and Djokovic leading the charge at No. 13 and No. 18, respectively.The "now gen" of tennis dominates the list, showcasing a blend of established stars and rising phenoms. Naomi Osaka (No. 48) and Aryna Sabalenka (No. 38) represent the established guard, while Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz (No. 29), and Jannik Sinner (No. 47) embody the multi-platform dominance of the younger generation.Gauff and Sabalenka's active presence on social media platforms like TikTok, coupled with Alcaraz's upcoming Netflix documentary, highlights the digital dominance of these young stars. They are expanding their brands by engaging with fans where they consume the most content.Notably, WTA No. 1 Iga Swiatek and ATP No. 1 Jannik Sinner have made their debut on SportsPro's Top 50 list, landing at No. 50 and No. 47, respectively. This contrast between on-court dominance and marketability potential suggests that there is still room for growth in their off-court presence.Despite the strong representation of tennis players, it is concerning that none have made it into the Top 10 for the second year in a row. This is only the third time since SportsPro launched its athlete marketability assessment in 2010 that no tennis player has featured in the Top 10.The SportsPro 50 Most Marketable Athletes list serves as a barometer of the most influential athletes in the world, both on and off the field. It includes household names and rising stars with significant partnership potential. American gymnast Simone Biles topped the list for the second time, followed by Brazilian soccer star Vinicius Junior and basketball legend LeBron James.

Coco Gauff, the rising star of women's tennis, has finally tasted the "Breakfast of Champions" after being featured on the iconic Wheaties cereal box for the past few months.After a grueling 30-hour journey home from Wuhan, where she narrowly lost to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals of the WTA 1000, Gauff indulged in her first bowl of Wheaties adorned with her own image.In a video shared on social media, Gauff expressed her delight with the cereal, particularly when paired with vanilla almond milk. She noted that it had been two months since she had enjoyed a bowl of cereal, making this moment even more special.The limited-edition Gauff Wheaties box is still available in stores, alongside the recently released Billie Jean King signature box. Gauff's recent success on the court has earned her a spot in the prestigious WTA Finals alongside Elena Rybakina, Jasmine Paolini, and Jessica Pegula. She also surpassed her countrywoman in the world rankings, securing the No. 3 spot.Gauff's Wheaties honor is a testament to her remarkable achievements at such a young age. She has consistently impressed with her powerful serve, aggressive baseline play, and unwavering determination. Her presence on the Wheaties box serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes everywhere, reminding them that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.

Six players have secured their spots in the prestigious WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with two spots remaining up for grabs.Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Jasmine Paolini, and Jessica Pegula have joined world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the exclusive tournament.Gauff, ranked No. 3, has had a successful season with two titles and six semifinals, including at the Australian Open and Roland Garros. Rybakina, despite withdrawing from the US Open, boasts a 41-9 record with three 500-level tournament wins.Paolini, who reached the finals of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, will also be competing in doubles alongside Sara Errani. Pegula, like Gauff, will be making her third consecutive WTA Finals appearance after winning titles in Berlin and Toronto and reaching the finals of Cincinnati and the US Open.The remaining two spots will be determined by the seventh-ranked and eighth-ranked players in the tour's singles race. Currently, Zheng Qinwen and Emma Navarro hold those positions, but Barbora Krejcikova, the Wimbledon champion, could potentially qualify if she finishes between No. 9 and No. 20.Krejcikova is currently 12th in the singles race, with a significant lead over Madison Keys, who is ranked 21st. If Krejcikova qualifies, she would take the eighth spot ahead of the eighth-ranked player.The WTA Finals will feature the top eight singles players and eight doubles teams, competing for a share of the $5 million prize pool. The tournament will be held from October 23-30 in Riyadh.

Coco Gauff has unofficially secured her spot at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, becoming the third player to qualify for the prestigious year-end tournament. The 18-year-old American revealed the news after her semifinal defeat to Aryna Sabalenka at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open.Gauff's qualification is based on the Live-Tennis.eu ranking race, which projects her to finish inside the top eight players who qualify for the WTA Finals. The official announcement is expected soon, but Gauff expressed her excitement about returning to the season-ending championships for a third consecutive year."I'm excited. I'm looking at dresses. They have a lot of things planned for us. I'm super excited. Yeah, I heard it's going to be great," Gauff said.Gauff's qualification is a testament to her consistent performances throughout the season. She began the Asian Swing on the bubble of qualifying but solidified her bid by winning the China Open and reaching the semifinals in Wuhan.The 2023 US Open champion first qualified for the WTA Finals in 2022 and reached the semifinals in 2023. This year, she will be looking to make a deeper run in the tournament."It's my first time not playing doubles," Gauff added. "So, that's going to be a different experience. But I'm excited. I'm looking at dresses. They have a lot of things planned for us. I'm super excited. Yeah, I heard it's going to be great, so I'm excited."Unofficially, Live-Tennis.eu also projects Jasmine Paolini, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Barbora Krejcikova to join Gauff at the WTA Finals. That leaves one remaining spot, for which Zheng Qinwen is in pole position after reaching the semifinals in Wuhan.

Aryna Sabalenka's remarkable comeback from the brink of defeat against Coco Gauff in the Wuhan Open semifinals on Saturday has propelled her into her 10th WTA 1000 final. The Belarusian star, who has a formidable 6-3 record in her previous WTA 1000 finals, will now face either Zheng Qinwen or Wang Xinyu in the championship match.Sabalenka's victory over Gauff was a testament to her resilience and determination. After dropping the first set 6-1 and trailing 4-2 in the second, she rallied back with astonishing force, winning seven consecutive games to take the second set and establish a 3-0 lead in the third.Gauff, who had won nine consecutive matches in China, fought back to level the third set, but Sabalenka's unwavering focus and powerful serve proved too much to overcome. The match ended with both players recording identical winners and unforced errors, but Sabalenka's superior ace-to-double fault ratio (2-2 to Gauff's 4-21) ultimately made the difference.Sabalenka's success in Wuhan is a continuation of her impressive form in recent months. She has won 19 of her last 20 matches, including back-to-back titles in Cincinnati and the US Open. Her only loss during this stretch came against Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals of the Beijing Open last week.The Wuhan Open has been a particularly fruitful tournament for Sabalenka. She has won the title twice before, in 2018 and 2019, and has never lost a match in the tournament. Her 16-0 record in Wuhan is a testament to her dominance on the hard courts of the Chinese city.If Sabalenka can overcome either Zheng or Wang in the final, she will capture her seventh WTA 1000 crown and further cement her status as one of the top players in the world.