Coco Gauff Wins WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia for First Time

American Coco Gauff celebrates with her winning trophy after defeating China's Zheng Qinwen in their women's singles final tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Riyadh on November 9, 2024. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)
American Coco Gauff celebrates with her winning trophy after defeating China's Zheng Qinwen in their women's singles final tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Riyadh on November 9, 2024. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)
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Coco Gauff Wins WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia for First Time

American Coco Gauff celebrates with her winning trophy after defeating China's Zheng Qinwen in their women's singles final tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Riyadh on November 9, 2024. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)
American Coco Gauff celebrates with her winning trophy after defeating China's Zheng Qinwen in their women's singles final tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Riyadh on November 9, 2024. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)

Coco Gauff won the WTA Finals for the first time by rallying to beat Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2) in the final in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
The 20-year-old American came from 2-0 and 5-3 down in the final set and was two points from defeat at one stage, The Associated Press reported.
Yet she took the set to a tiebreaker and won the first six points. Zheng threatened a comeback but Gauff took the victory off her third match point with a forehand winner as she came into the net.
Gauff beat the world’s top two players — Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek — on her run to the final at the season-ending event in Riyadh.
Zheng was looking to complete a season in which she reached a grand slam final for the first time at the Australian Open and delivered China’s first Olympic tennis singles gold medal.
In the doubles final, Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand beat Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic and Taylor Townsend of the United States 7-5, 6-3.



F1 Driver Esteban Ocon Released by Alpine, Doohan to Drive at Final GP of the Season

Alpine driver Esteban Ocon of France walks away from his car after crashing during the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit racetrack in Lusail, Qatar, 01 December 2024. (EPA)
Alpine driver Esteban Ocon of France walks away from his car after crashing during the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit racetrack in Lusail, Qatar, 01 December 2024. (EPA)
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F1 Driver Esteban Ocon Released by Alpine, Doohan to Drive at Final GP of the Season

Alpine driver Esteban Ocon of France walks away from his car after crashing during the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit racetrack in Lusail, Qatar, 01 December 2024. (EPA)
Alpine driver Esteban Ocon of France walks away from his car after crashing during the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit racetrack in Lusail, Qatar, 01 December 2024. (EPA)

F1 team Alpine confirmed Monday that Esteban Ocon has been released ahead of the final Grand Prix of the season and that Jack Doohan will make his debut in Abu Dhabi.

The team said in a statement that the lineup change will allow Ocon to take part in post-season tests with his new team Haas.

Alpine had announced in June that Ocon would leave at the end of the season after a troubled start to the year in Formula 1 for him and the French-owned team.

Doohan was promoted from the reserve driver role to become Pierre Gasly’s teammate.

Ocon was in 14th place in the driver's standings. He crashed out of the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday.

Ocon made his F1 debut in 2016 with Manor and joined the then-Renault team for 2020. His sole career win came at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2021 for Alpine after a crash in wet conditions took out much of the field.

Ocon will partner Ollie Bearman at Haas next season.

The 21-year-old Doohan, son of former motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan, was third in Formula 2 last year and has been a full-time reserve for Alpine in 2024.