WTA Finals ; Coco Gauff reaches the semifinals with a thrilling comeback over Vondrousova

Cancun, 

Saturday, 4 November, 2023 

McCreadie Andias 

Teenage sensation Coco Gauff produced an impressive comeback against Marketa Vondrousova that sent her through to the Semi Finals at the WTA Finals in Cancun on Saturday. 

Gauff came from behind to beat Vondrousova 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-3 in the Chetumal Group. 

Although Gauff had already been eliminated in her previous loss to Iga Swiatek on (6-4, 6-3), this match earned her an unguaranteed chance to redeem her self from the round-robin stage to the semis as she also has to rely on Iga Swiatek defeating Ons Jabeur in the final match of the night.

Vondrousova on her part had lost her previous group match to Ons Jabeur on (7-6, 6-0) and her only chance for hope to remain in the tournament was to sweep past Gauff. 

Vondrousova entered the first set on high spirits bagging 12 of her first 13 points gaining a 3-0 lead with two breaks. 

Gauff ramped up her energy to win three consecutive games forcing the match to a 3-3, both players maintained pace in the match advancing the scores to 5-5 but Czech's Vondrousova would finally find her serve that put her ahead 7-5.

Gauff came in strong in the second half totaling 13 winners and 14 unforced errors compared to Vondrousova's 8 winners and 8 unforced errors. 

She went 5-2 up but aggressive Vondrousova would come back 6-5 up which compelled Gauff to gear up her grit to level up the scores forcing the match to a third set. 

In the third set, the first break occurred in the fifth game in favor of the 19-year-old American. Following the break, Vondrousova appeared noticeably discouraged and her performance dropped in the latter part of the match, which Gauff won 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-3.

As previously experienced, the weather at Cancun was not the best for the players with the intermittent rains causing multiple interruptions in the match and the strong winds affected the serves and rallies resulting in errors due to the ball being moved by the wind.

Jabeur and Swiatek's match will determine the final group standings and who sails through the Semis.