AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — High-seeded Coco Gauff has retained her title on the WTA Auckland Basic, beating second-seeded Elina Svitolina 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3 in Sunday’s last.
For the primary time all week, Gauff had a battle on her palms. She swept into the ultimate with out dropping a set; the truth is, dropping solely 15 video games on her manner by the semifinals.
That adopted her flawless match final 12 months when she didn’t drop a set in any respect and capped off an ideal week with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Rebeka Masarova within the last.
Third-ranked Gauff had wanted solely 4 hours of court docket time to succeed in the ultimate whereas Ukraine’s Svitolina took twice that a lot, beating Wang Xiyua of China 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a match which lasted four-and-a-half hours with rain breaks.
Sunday’s match towards Svitolina was by far the hardest Gauff has confronted on this, the primary week of her 2024 season. She needed to come from a set down for the primary time and it took 2 hours, 23 minutes to finish her victory. Beforehand, Gauff’s longest match on the match had been 1 hour, 22 minutes.
It was a wrestle all through. Gauff’s serve has been the cornerstone of her recreation all week. She served 10 aces alone in her 6-3, 6-1 win over fellow American Emma Navarro within the semifinals and he or she gained 80 p.c of factors all week when her first serve was in play.
In opposition to Svitolina, Gauff managed solely three aces and had seven double faults. She put solely 65 p.c of first serves in play and had 43 unforced errors.
Gauff appeared uncomfortable towards the hard-hitting Svitolina who was tenacious and ran down pictures that Gauff beforehand would have counted as winners.
However she persevered and had a successful edge within the third set through which she broke Svitolina solely as soon as, within the eighth recreation.
She served for the match and championship within the subsequent recreation and needed to save a break level earlier than successful on her first match level. She turned the primary participant since Julia Goerges in 2018 and 2019 to win again to again Auckland titles and the primary American to take action since Patty Fendick in 1988 and 1989.
“That is the primary time ever having to defend a title so I’m actually pleased I used to be capable of do it as we speak,” Gauff mentioned.
“I’d prefer to congratulate Elina for an unbelievable week. What you do, being a mum and coming again so quick and at such a excessive stage is fairly inspiring. Hopefully — not any time quickly — I’ll be capable to do it such as you’ve carried out it.”
Gauff broke Svitolina within the fourth recreation of the primary set however Svitolina broke again instantly. Svitolina was damaged once more within the eighth recreation and, once more, broke again straight in a service recreation through which Gauff had two double faults. The set went to a tiebreak, gained comfortably by Svitolina at 7-4.
Gauff began the second set by breaking Svitolina and broke her once more within the seventh recreation. Svitolina broke again within the eighth recreation however Gauff broke once more. She was 15-40 down serving for the set however recovered to stage the match.
The third set was a good one with some extraordinary rallies through which each gamers combined energy and contact. Gauff took the very important service break within the eighth recreation and once more confronted a break level earlier than serving out the set and match.
“It’s been a extremely nice expertise to play for the primary time right here,” Svitolina mentioned. “I wish to congratulate Coco and her workforce for the nice begin to the 12 months and good luck on the Australian Open.
“I’ve been actually having fun with myself right here, taking part in nice matches. It was a troublesome loss as we speak however I hope I can come again subsequent 12 months to play extra tennis right here.”
Svitolina was supported from court-side all through the week by husband Gael Monfils who will play the boys’s Auckland Basic which begins Monday.
