Gauff Upsets Sabalenka and Sets Up Showdown with Zheng for WTA Finals Title in Saudi Arabia

Coco Gauff, of the US, greets fans after her women's singles semifinal match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Riyadh: Asharq Al Awsat

05:45-9 November 2024 AD ـ 08 Jumada Al-Ula 1446 AH

Riyadh: Asharq Al Awsat

05:45-9 November 2024 AD ـ 08 Jumada Al-Ula 1446 AH

Gauff Upsets Sabalenka and Sets Up Showdown with Zheng for WTA Finals Title in Saudi Arabia

Coco Gauff defeated top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 7-6 (4), 6-3 and set up a showdown with Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in the final of the WTA Finals on Friday.
Gauff generated six break points to Sabalenka’s four and built on early momentum in the opening set’s tiebreak that she carried through to the second set.
She’s the youngest player at 20 to make the final at the WTA Finals since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010.
Zheng earlier defeated Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 7-5 to book her place in Saturday's final.
Zheng continued her remarkable season by reaching the decider in her first appearance. The Chinese player has won 31 of her 36 matches since Wimbledon, more than anyone else on the tour.
Zheng struck nine aces as she defeated a tired-looking Krejcikova in 1 hour, 40 minutes.

Man City Have the Spirit to Weather the Storm, Dias Says

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola gives instructions to Manchester City's Portuguese defender #03 Ruben Dias from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 1, 2024. (AFP)

11:33-2 December 2024 AD ـ 01 Jumada Al-Alkhirah 1446 AH

Man City Have the Spirit to Weather the Storm, Dias Says

Manchester City have the character to come through the rough patch of form that saw the defending champions slump to a fourth straight Premier League defeat at Liverpool on Sunday, defender Ruben Dias said.

Goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah gave leaders Liverpool a 2-0 win at Anfield which left City 11 points behind Arne Slot's side in fifth place.

City, who lost four league games in a row for the first time since 2008, are winless in their last seven matches in all competitions, a run that includes six defeats and a 3-3 draw at home against Feyenoord in the Champions League.

They have conceded 19 goals during the winless streak, shipping four in matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Sporting. Prior to the slump they had conceded 11 in 14 games.

"I will not talk about the little details but focus on the bigger picture," said Dias, who was at fault in the lead up to Liverpool's second.

"That is, even though it was a difficult moment I did see a lot of character and I did see the fans behind us and that is the only way we are going to go through it."

City, who have won six of the last seven Premier League titles, have been hit hard by injuries to key players such as Rodri, Mateo Kovacic and John Stones but manager Pep Guardiola has been able to guide the side through injury crises in previous seasons.

"This is just part of our legacy. We have won so much and still we are where we are and this happens," Dias added.

"We have been able to be versatile, adapt and keep on moving forward and thinking one game at a time... That is what we need to get back to."

Gauff Upsets Sabalenka and Sets Up Showdown with Zheng for WTA Finals Title in Saudi Arabia

Gauff Upsets Sabalenka and Sets Up Showdown with Zheng for WTA Finals Title in Saudi Arabia

Most Viewed

Man City Have the Spirit to Weather the Storm, Dias Says

Man City Have the Spirit to Weather the Storm, Dias Says

لم تشترك بعد