Coco Gauff vs Qinwen Zheng prediction, betting tips & odds, head-to-head, preview: WTA Finals 2024

Both Coco Gauff and Qinwen Zheng are making their maiden final appearances at the WTA Finals.

Instead of the odds-on favourites, Aryna Sabalenka or Iga Swiatek playing the title round of WTA Finals 2024, we have 20-year-old Coco Gauff taking on 22-year-old Qinwen Zheng with the prestigious trophy at stake. The latest result has been a hallmark of the unpredictable season extending to the WTA Finals event. Sabalenka fell in the last four while defending champ Iga Swiatek could not make it past the round-robin stage.

Gauff defeated No. #2 ranked Iga Swiatek, 6-3, 6-4, in the round-robin stage on Tuesday. The American followed it up by overpowering No. #1 ranked Sabalenka in Friday’s semifinals, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

With the win, Gauff has become the youngest player to reach the title round since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010. Gauff is close to entering the record books as the youngest WTA Finals title holder since Maria Sharapova (2004).

Meanwhile, Zheng, is now the first Chinese woman to reach the title round of the WTA Finals since Li Na in 2013. Zheng’s reward for her extraordinary week in Riyadh is the title round in the WTA Finals 2024 on debut. The 2024 edition is her first qualification for the year-ending event.

Zheng humbled Jasmine Paolini, 6-1, 6-1, in her last round-robin match on Wednesday before sending reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova home also in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5 on Friday.

Gauff and World No. #7 Zheng, with a combined age of 42 years and 271 days, are the youngest finalists since 2004. Maria Sharapova (17) and Serena Williams (23) were the 2004 finalists with a combined age of 40 years, 251 days.

Match Details

Tournament: WTA Finals 2024

Round: Final

Date: November 9

Venue: King Saud University Indoor Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Surface: Hard Court

Preview

Coco Gauff, after ending Sabalenka’s stay in Riyadh, became the first American since Serena Williams to take out the top two players at the same event. Gauff removed Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka from the equation, back-to-back, to make her first-ever WTA Finals title round.

Gauff was the first to qualify for the semifinals from the Orange Group after powering past Jessica Pegula and upsetting defending champion Iga Swiatek to go up 2-0. She lost to Barbora Krejcikova to finish 2-1 in the round-robin stage.

In the semi-final against Aryna Sabalenka, Gauff used the Belarusian’s pace and aggression against her. The American eased off and settled for defending and counterpunching to send the newly minted year-end World No. #1 home.

Also Read: All you need to know about prize money and points on offer at WTA Finals 2024

Qinwen Zheng punched her ticket to the finals as the second qualifier from the Purple Group. She finished 2-1 in the round-robin stage with wins over Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini. Her sole loss was to Sabalenka during the group stage.

Playing her first WTA Finals semi-final, Zheng, all of 22 years old, saw off Barbora Krejcikova to become the youngest player to reach the final on her WTA Finals debut since Petra Kvitova in 2011.

Coco Gauff and Qinwen Zheng are headed for their second meeting on the WTA Tour. Gauff defeated Zheng 7-6(4) 6-1 in the Italian Open quarter-finals last May.

Form

Coco Gauff: L-W-W-L-W

Qinwen Zheng: W-L-W-W-W

Also Read: WTA Finals: Full list of title winners

Head-to-head record

Matches: 1

Coco Gauff: 1

Qinwen Zheng: 0

Stats

Coco Gauff

• Gauff has a winning ratio of 69.75% in matches played in her career
• Gauff has won three of her last five matches
• Gauff has won 12 of her last 15 matches

Qinwen Zheng

• Zheng has a winning ratio of 70.2% in matches played in her career
• Zheng has won four of her last five matches
• Zheng has won 12 of her last 15 matches

Coco Gauff vs Qinwen Zheng Betting tips and odds

• Moneyline: Gauff -167, Zheng +150
• Spread: Gauff -2.5 (-125), Zheng +2.5 (-110)
• Total sets: Over 22.5 (-110), Under 22.5 (-120)

Match prediction

It comes down to the final two at the WTA Finals 2024, hosted by Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the first time. Both women are playing their first year-end final and have enjoyed success on clay and hard courts this season.

Gauff is looking to add to her nine WTA Tour titles and the third of the season. She began the season by defending the ASP Classic crown in Auckland and picked the WTA 1000 China Open title last month.

Also Read: Coco Gauff becomes first since Maria Sharapova to qualify for three straight WTA Finals before the age of 21

Zheng is on the verge of her sixth career title. The Chinese woman added wins at the Palermo Ladies Open and the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo to add to her historic Olympic gold at the Paris Games.

Zheng bounced back while trailing 3-0 to defeat the Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova. If Zheng summons the mental toughness and composure that has characterised her Riyadh run, the WTA Finals trophy will be hers.

Gauff was at her defensive best against Sabalenka in the last four. Both players traded 14 winners, but Gauff made fewer unforced errors (20) to Sabalenka’s 47. Gauff, with her counterpunching ability, negated Sabalenka’s powerful groundstrokes. The American, with her reliable serve and consistent baseline gameplay, can be tough to beat.

Result: Qinwen Zheng to win in straight sets

Where and how to watch live streaming and TV broadcast of Coco Gauff vs Qinwen Zheng match in WTA Finals 2024?

The championship round at WTA Finals 2024 will be streamed live on the Tennis Channel. The subscription-based streaming service offers live coverage and replays of all WTA events.

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