Coco Gauff Disapproves Idea of Changing Location Frequently for WTA Finals

Coco Gauff will be one of the favorites to win the WTA Finals in Riyadh later this year.

Coco Gauff Disapproves Idea of Changing Location Frequently for WTA Finals

Coco Gauff (Image via X/Coco Gauff Fans)

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When Coco Gauff first qualified for the WTA Finals in 2022 as an 18-year-old, she faced a tough introduction to the event. That week in Fort Worth, Texas, she lost all six of her matches in both singles and doubles. It was a learning experience that shaped her approach to major tournaments in the years that followed.

Two years later in Riyadh, Gauff completed a remarkable turnaround. She defeated the world’s top two players, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, before battling past China’s Zheng Qinwen in a grueling three-hour final to claim the title. As reported by Punto de Break, Gauff spoke about the importance of stability in the sport and said that constantly changing the WTA Finals venues made it harder for players to adjust and build tradition.

I don’t know. Given that in my last three finals it’s been in three different places, I definitely don’t think we should go to different places every year. Now, I don’t feel like I’ve been in a circuit long enough to know if 10 years are right or not because I’ve played in three different years. And I definitely think it’s beneficial to keep a tournament there for at least two or three years in a row.

Her victory made her the youngest champion of the WTA Finals since Maria Sharapova, who won the event at 17 in 2004. The triumph also earned Gauff a record $4.8 million prize, marking one of the biggest paydays of her career. She is set to return to Riyadh next month to defend her crown after qualifying for the season-ending event for the fourth straight year.

Gauff has remained a fixture in the world’s top 10 for the past three seasons, a testament to her consistency and drive. Her journey from teenage prodigy to two-time Grand Slam winner reflects her determination to fulfill the goals she set at just 15, when she boldly declared she wanted to be one of the greatest players of all time.

The status of Coco Gauff’s WTA Ranking

American tennis star Coco Gauff emerged as the big winner at the 2025 Wuhan Open, capturing the title and securing the American year-end No. 1 ranking. Her triumph came after defeating Jessica Pegula 6-4, 7-5 in the final, marking her second trophy of the season following her Roland Garros victory in June. The win strengthened Gauff’s position at No. 3 in the world and ensured she would finish as the top-ranked American woman for the year.

Coco Gauff (via X/Ground Press)
Coco Gauff (via X/Ground Press)

Amanda Anisimova had threatened Gauff’s spot after her impressive run at the China Open, but a calf injury forced her to withdraw from the Wuhan event. Gauff’s victory extended her lead over Anisimova to nearly 1,900 points, a margin large enough to protect her ranking even with upcoming point deductions at the WTA Finals. Anisimova had also pulled out of the Ningbo Open, ending her chances of closing the gap.

At the top of the rankings, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek remain firmly ahead of the rest. Sabalenka, last year’s Wuhan champion, lost to Pegula in the semi-finals, dropping 610 points. Swiatek exited in the quarter-finals, leaving Sabalenka with a 1,632-point advantage heading into the WTA Finals. With only 1,500 points available at that event, Sabalenka is almost certain to end the year as world No. 1 for a second straight season, though potential WTA rule penalties for missing required WTA 500 tournaments could still influence the standings.

Pegula’s strong showing lifted her to No. 5 in the rankings, and she still has a chance to overtake Anisimova before the season concludes. Ekaterina Alexandrova made her debut in the top 10, while the rest of the top 20 saw little movement. Karolina Muchova returned to No. 20, and Daria Kasatkina slipped to No. 22. Further down, Victoria Mboko remained at No. 24 and Emma Raducanu inched up to No. 29 after early exits in Wuhan.

Coco Gauff wins Wuhan Open

World No.3 Coco Gauff captured the Wuhan Open title on Sunday with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Jessica Pegula. She won four straight games to seal the match and secure the championship. It was the first time the two close friends faced each other in a WTA final.

Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff

On her way to the title, Gauff enjoyed a strong run throughout the tournament. She defeated Moyuka Uchijima in just 51 minutes, then overcame Zhang Shuai in the third round. In the quarterfinals, she earned another solid win against Laura Siegemund to reach the final.

The Wuhan crown marks Gauff’s second title of the year, adding to her French Open triumph earlier in the season. With this victory, the 21-year-old now holds 11 career titles on the WTA Tour. Her consistent form continues to highlight her growth as one of the top players in women’s tennis.

Gauff outplayed Pegula in the final, striking 24 winners—11 more than her opponent. During the trophy presentation, she expressed gratitude to Pegula for her support early in her career and praised their long-standing friendship.

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