Cori Gauff becomes youngest player to reach women's singles final in Citi Open

The American is also the first teenager to reach the summit clash women’s singles in Washington.

Cori Gauff marched into her second final of the 2023 season by besting defending champion Liudmila Samsonova at the Mubadala Citi DC Open. Gauff booked herself a spot in the final with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Samsonova in their semi-final clash on Saturday. The American tennis star had prevailed on both of her prior meetings with Samsonova, but she was stretched to three sets on each of those occasions.

Gauff, 19, is now the youngest player to reach the women’s singles final at the Citi Open in Washington. With her semifinal victory over Samsonova, the World No. 7 is yet to drop a set this week after winning in emphatic fashion over the 18th-ranked Russian. Cori Gauff is now one victory away from adding to the ASB Classic title she won in Auckland and her fourth overall on the WTA Tour.

19, 145 – At 19 years and 145 days, Cori Gauff is the first teenager and thus the youngest player to reach the women's singles final at Washington, since the tournament's inaugural edition in 2011. Path.#MubadalaCitiDCOpen | @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/X7mpbDs339

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) August 5, 2023

Cori Gauff and Maria Sakkari face off in Citi Open title clash

Gauff’s opponent in Sunday’s summit clash is the ninth-ranked Maria Sakkari of Greece. Sakkari, who is seeded four, had to push hard for a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory over top seed Jessica Pegula in the Mubadala Citi DC Open semi-finals on Saturday. After brushing aside the top-ranked American, Sakkari is now in her eighth career singles final and just a solitary win away from claiming her second WTA Tour title.

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In what is her Washington debut, Sakkari has succeeded in making it all the way to the summit clash. Sunday’s final is the first time Sakkari and Gauff face each other in the 2023 season. Sakkari has an edge over Gauff in their head-to-head, leading 4-1, including wins in both of their matches in 2022. But judging by the American’s form this week, Sakkari would be wise not to seek comfort in their history.

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