Coco Gauff is the youngest player in 14 years to reach the final of the WTA Finals, following impressive world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka

CNN
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Coco Gauff stunned world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals of the WTA Finals on Friday, becoming the youngest player to reach the final of the tournament since 2010.

The 20-year-old American eventually prevailed in a back-and-forth match, defeating Sabalenka 7-6 (4), 6-3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, fighting back twice after losing in the first game had suffered a breakdown.

She will now face China’s Zheng Qinwen for the title and the chance to become the youngest player since Maria Sharapova in 2004 to win the prestigious season-ending tournament reserved for the world’s best players.

According to the WTA, Gauff is already the youngest player to defeat the reigning world No. 1 at the WTA Finals since Maria Sharapova defeated Lindsay Davenport in 2004.

And in a beautiful symmetry, Gauff and Zheng, 22, are the youngest pair to reach the final since 2004, when a 17-year-old Sharapova defeated a 23-year-old Serena Williams.

According to Opta, Gauff is also the youngest player to defeat the reigning world No. 1 and No. 2 at the WTA Finals since Kim Clijsters in 2002.

“I asked (about the record) as soon as I got the match,” Gauff said, according to WTA. “I asked, ‘Was that the youngest? It must be some kind of record.’ I asked the Sky team for the answer. They didn’t have it, but that’s good to know.

“It was 2004. The year I was born was the last time, so I’ve basically never seen it in my life. That’s pretty cool. It just goes to show that age is a number in both directions, old or young.”

Sabalenka broke her early in the first set, but the American immediately retaliated before Sabalenka broke again at 5-5, giving herself the chance to serve for the set.

But the Belarusian, who made several uncharacteristic unforced errors throughout the match, missed the chance and Gauff won the first set tiebreak.

The American then took a 4-1 lead in the second set, and although Sabalenka fought hard to recover twice, she ended the match with her sixth break of the competition.

Next she faces a strong opponent: Zheng, the newly crowned Olympic champion who has won 31 of her last 36 matches since Wimbledon.

The Chinese star defeated Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejčíková in the semi-finals, becoming the youngest player to reach the final on her debut at the tournament since 2011.