WTA roundup: Coco Gauff defends title at ASB Classic

Field Level Media|published: Sun 7th January, 11:22 2024

Nov 4, 2023; Cancun, Mexico; Coco Gauff (USA) waves as she leaves the court after her match against Jessica Pegula (USA) on day seven of the GNP Saguaros WTA Finals Cancun. credits: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

Top-seeded Coco Gauff successfully defended her ASB Classic title and captured her seventh championship overall with a 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3 victory over second-seeded Elina Svitolina on Sunday in Auckland, New Zealand.

Gauff overcame losing her first set of the tournament by dispatching the Ukrainian in two hours, 35 minutes. She became the fourth player to win consecutive WTA titles at the ASB Classic, joining Patty Fendick (1988-89), Eleni Daniilidou (2003-04) and Julia Goerges (2018-19).

"I don't know if I was expecting this result, but I'm really happy with how I managed to play today," Gauff said. "I think today level-wise was definitely not my best match or best level this week, but sometimes when you win when you're not playing your best, it makes you feel more satisfied."

Gauff collected three aces to offset seven double faults before putting away Svitolina.

Brisbane International

Elena Rybakina captured her sixth career title with a convincing 6-0, 6-3 victory over top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in Australia.

The second-seeded Rybakina recorded seven aces and won 73.3 percent of her first serve points to seize the match in 73 minutes. The native of Kazakhstan also notched her second title in Australia (Hobart, 2020) and avenged a three-set loss to Sabalenka in the 2023 Australian Open final.

The setback snapped Sabalenka's streak of 15 straight wins on Australian soil, a run that began with victories in Adelaide and the Australian Open in 2023.

—Field Level Media