Coco Gauff stuns Aryna Sabalenka to play for WTA final

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Coco Gauff defeated top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka on Friday to set up a showdown with Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in the final of the WTA Finals.

Gauff generated six break points to Sabalenka’s four in the 7-6 (4), 6-3 win and built on early momentum in the opening set tiebreak that she carried into the second set.

At 20, she is the youngest player to reach the final at the WTA Finals since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010.

Zheng defeated former Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 7-5 to book her place in Saturday’s final.

Zheng continued his remarkable season by reaching the decider in his first appearance. The Chinese player has won 31 of his 36 matches since Wimbledon, more than anyone else on the tour.

Zheng hit nine aces as she defeated Krejcikova in 1 hour 40 minutes.