Tracy Austin pinpoints exactly what went wrong for Coco Gauff in defeat to Barbora Krejcikova at the WTA Finals

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Coco Gauff lost her final round robin match at the WTA Finals and Tracy Austin explains what went wrong.

The 20-year-old had already advanced to the semi-finals, but she was aiming to remain unbeaten in the competition.

But that run came to an end thanks to Barbora Krejcikova who, despite finishing the season outside the world’s top eight, qualified for the WTA Finals by winning Wimbledon in July.

She defeated Gauff 7-5, 6-4 to not only reach the semifinals in Riyadh but also top the group ahead of the world number three.

Barbora Krejcikova (L) of the Czech Republic wins her match against Coco Gauff of the United States, on Day 6 of the 2024 WTA Finals, part of the Hologic WTA Tour, h...
Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

What does Tracy Austin think, who went wrong for Coco Gauff against Barbora Krejcikova at the WTA final?

It is usually Coco Gauff’s serve or forehand that is the main reason for her lost matches. Against Krejcikova, it was the latter as the Czech player consistently targeted her opponent’s forehand.

She attacked it with pace and variety that Gauff struggled to handle and that was the key to the Wimbledon champion’s latest victory, as Tracy Austin explained on Tennis channel.

“The forearm collapsed,” the 61-year-old said. The serving was good for Coco. She has changed her grip a bit more to the right which really seems to have helped her serve.

“A couple of double faults, a lot of aces, I think you said 10. But the forehand with that variation from Krejcikova, lift it and hit it hard, slices. There were a lot of misses on that advance side.

“Now suddenly Coco is playing against Sabalenka in the semi-finals. It’s a really surprising day. I thought Coco and Sabelenka played the best today, but they both lost their last match.”

Coco Gauff of the United States during her match against Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic, on Day 6 of the 2024 WTA Finals, part of the Hologic WTA Tour, full...
Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Coco Gauff’s defeat to Barbora Krejcikova at the WTA Finals was bad news for Iga Swiatek

Gauff’s defeat to Krejcikova means she finished second in her group and will play Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals of the WTA Finals.

The pair have played twice in 2024, with the Belarusian victorious on both occasions. The result also had significant consequences for Iga Swiatek.

She needed Gauff to win her final group match to advance, but the world number three suffered a loss, thus ending Swiatek’s title defense at the WTA Finals.

However, the Polish player didn’t seem to be aware of that fact and when told in her post-match press conference, she looked confused.

“Um, you mean it didn’t matter? Why didn’t it? Well, yes, thank you, she said with a smile. Swiatek’s attention now turns to the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers in Malaga, which begin on November 13.

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