Teenager Coco Gauff reaches first WTA final in Linz
Coco Gauff is through to her maiden WTA final as the teenager defeated Andrea Petkovic of Germany 6-4 6-4 in the semi-final of the Linz Open.
The 15-year-old becomes the youngest female to reach a final since Czech player Nicole Vaidisova in 2004.
But she only got into the event as a lucky loser after an injury to former Wimbledon winner Angelique Kerber.
“This is crazy, I thought I was out of the tournament in qualifying,” said the American.
Currently ranked 110th, Gauff showed real determination to save nine out of the 10 break points she faced, before she sealed victory on her second match point.
In the final on Sunday, the girl from Florida will play either former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko of Lativa or Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Coco Gauff reacts to reaching her first ever WTA final
Coco Gauff was almost overcome with emotion after reaching her maiden WTA Tour final.
The American teenage sensation, who shot to prominence following her run to the fourth round of Wimbledon earlier this year, defeated Andrea Petkovic 6-4 6-4 and will face either Ekaterina Alexandrova or Jelena Ostapenko tomorrow.
Gauff was only granted a place at the tournament as a lucky loser after an injury to former Wimbledon winner Angelique Kerber.
The 15-year-old has capitalised fully having been granted a second opportunity and displayed all her battling qualities to beat Petkovic, saving nine break points.
‘This is crazy, I thought I was out of the tournament in qualifying,’ she said afterwards. ‘I think it’s my biggest ever win against a high rank opponent this year or in my whole career.
I”m really happy and proud of myself. She played an amazing match and honestly if two points went a different way it could have been a different outcome.
‘This is my lucky tournament here. They (my team) support me a lot. I always tell them I don’t mind when people get loud because it helps me.
‘I appreciate that. Thank you to my team for that and especially my Dad I think I get a lot of my personality and on court personality from him.’
__________________________________EndSource: BBC News
