Gauff wins WTA Finals after epic battle with Zheng

RIYADH, Nov 10 (Reuters): Defiant Coco Gauff fought back to beat China's Zheng Qinwen 3-6 6-4 7-6(2) in a three-hour thriller on Saturday and become the youngest player to win the WTA Finals in 20 years and the first American champion since Serena Williams a decade ago.

The 20-year-old Gauff stormed to a 6-0 lead in the final set tiebreak before easing to victory, falling to the court in celebration as she clinched the year-end world number three ranking for the second straight time. It was the longest showpiece match at the WTA Finals since 2008 when times were first recorded.

"I was just trying my best to hang in there and I never gave up," a delighted Gauff said.

Olympic gold medallist Zheng, seeded seventh and making her WTA Finals debut, won the first set in just under an hour, saving all five break points she faced to keep Gauff at bay.Zheng got a 3-1 head start in the second set but Gauff fought back, breaking Zheng to love in the sixth game and converting another break point in the eighth before the pair traded breaks to close out the set.