Only the last step remains to climb in these WTA Finals 2024. Coco Gauff or Qinwen Zheng. Two of the youngest players on the women’s tour will battle to be crowned for the first time in this grand event, which concludes tomorrow. This ultimate match will determine a new Master and close out a rather good season for both, with a confident Gauff after consecutive victories over Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka.

This won’t be a final between the number 1 and number 2 as perhaps expected, but it will definitely not disappoint. They will also face a historic duel, as the youngest pair (42 years, 259 days) to reach the final of this tournament since 2004, when Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova did at 40 years, 251 days. What can we expect from this battle? Let’s see how they both arrive and what can be expected next Saturday.

Gauff, third time lucky?

The American aims to claim the title on her third attempt, and she is very close to achieving her goal. After a lackluster US Open, Gauff delivered a strong performance in the Asian indoor tour with a title in Beijing. She has continued her good form in these WTA Finals, demonstrating her prowess in the big tournaments. She has become the youngest finalist there since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010, marking her most important final of the year. Additionally, she was able to avenge her defeat against Aryna Sabalenka in Wuhan by defeating her in straight sets in Riyadh.

What’s even crazier is that she not only left behind the recent world number 1 but did so after beating the number 2, Iga Swiatek, in the group stage. She also comfortably defeated Jessica Pegula in her debut, although Barbora Krejcikova posed a challenge. Despite that, the 20-year-old will step into her first Master’s Tournament final with soaring confidence.

Zheng, in the final on her first attempt

She started with a defeat, but Qinwen Zheng managed to turn that around to reach the final of this prestigious tournament. This is her first time in the WTA Finals, but the Chinese player once again showed her composure to overcome any nerves in what has been her best season so far. After becoming the second Chinese player to debut here (after Li Na in 2013), Zheng aims to be the first from her country to claim the title.

At 22 years old, she is already an Olympic medalist after a remarkable performance at Paris 2024, and her Asian tour was outstanding. The Chinese player has shown remarkable form in the latter part of the season, including a title in Tokyo. Despite losing to the world number 1 in her first match in Riyadh and facing a tough challenge against Elena Rybakina, Zheng bounced back by defeating Jasmine Paolini and dismantling Krejcikova. Her confidence level is at its peak.

– H2H and Tactical Keys

Before analyzing tactically how this battle might unfold, it is also crucial to consider their head-to-head record. They have only met once, in the WTA 1000 in Rome earlier this year, back in May. Gauff won in straight sets in that match, albeit in very different conditions. The clay surface is replaced by a fast indoor court that could favor the Chinese player, who excels in such settings. The American must capitalize on her agility and speed to reach all of her opponent’s shots.

The Chinese player knows how to dominate with this shot perfectly, although she must be sharp with her serve as Gauff already demonstrated her ability to return even the most powerful serves against Aryna. An interesting battle is anticipated from the baseline, where both players tend to feel comfortable. Who will eventually yield? The American must also target Zheng’s backhand, which has shown some weaknesses, while the Asian player will rely on a strong mentality. Who do you think will be crowned in Riyadh?
 

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, WTA Finals 2024. Análisis de la final: Cori Gauff vs Qinwen Zheng