Coco Gauff against Zheng Qinwen: title decision in the WTA final – live | WTA finals

First set: Zheng 4-3 Gauff* (*denotes the next server) Seventeen unforced errors to start this game for Zheng – that’s ten more than Gauff. In fact, Zheng’s average serves last 6 minutes and 25 seconds, compared to 4 minutes for Gauff. The Lavender Field continues to be hit hard – and from 30 to 10, then from 2, Zheng wins the game.

First set: Zheng* 3-3 Gauff (*denotes the next server) We take a break while the referee criticizes someone for moving in the crowd. Apparently there were 21,000 people in attendance over the course of the tournament – a capacity of 4,000 today and yesterday, which is probably half full the rest of the time, estimates Jonathan Overend. A steaming backhand from Zheng passes to a flying Gauff to take the game to 30-0, which seems to send Zheng into a frenzy. She fights for a first break point against the Gauff serve – but then gives Gauff the advantage with a steamy cross-court forehand that hits too far. Gauff hits a ball close to the net, but then ends the game. This is magical tennis.

First set: Zheng 3-2 Gauff* (*denotes next server) A huge game full of huge shots and wild rallies. An inside-out backhand gives Zheng the first point on her serve. Gauff is very fast and crosses the entire baseline like a woman in seven-league boots. An inch-perfect forehand from Gauff, then Zheng hits wide and gives Gauff two break points. Zheng saves the game with a perfectly balanced cross-court winner and a backhand down the line. Zheng saves a third break point and Gauff is disgusted with himself after a limp forehand that gives Zheng the advantage. But a cross-court forehand brings her back to the deuce. In the end, however, Zheng wins. You take a seat.

First set: Zheng 2*-2 Gauff (*denotes the next server) Gauff is wearing a deeper purple, almost royal purple, dress and a matching headband. A double fault is followed by two outrageous first serves. Zheng pulls back for a tackle, but Gauff’s brilliant defense in a squeaky-shoe rally gives her the advantage and she soon concedes the game

First set: Zheng 2-1 Gauff *(*denotes the next server) Zheng hits a backhand into the net for the 15th goal and Gauff fights back in a series of powerful rallies, but ultimately nothing succeeds. Pere Riba, Zheng’s trainer, sits with his arms folded and watches.

First set: Zheng* 1-1 Gauff (*denotes the next server) Wham-bam – Gauff wins the game in about 60 seconds with a steamy serve.

First sentence

Gauff is the youngest WTA finalist since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010. Qinwen wins the toss and decides to serve. A huge crowd filled the arena and watched them warm up.

Who will win? The TV experts are tied 1:1.

Out come the players!

There is a lot of talk about Gauff’s forehand. She changed her team, splitting up with Brad Gilbert after the US Open and teaming up with Matt Daly. Since then she has been storming up the rankings – and the forehand is one of the main topics of conversation.

“I don’t want to give away too much about what’s going on, but there are changes,” Gauff said. “I’ve been playing with them since Beijing.”

Lots of flashing purple lights and heady drums in Riyadh, but Tim Henman is still wearing a nice jacket, so no need to panic. I can imagine that the players will be out soon.

This was Tumaini Carayol’s view of the midweek final.

preamble