Aryna Sabalenka is into the WTA Finals semi-finals at the expense of defending champion Coco Gauff – but that hasn’t stopped the American from landing herself a huge payday
Coco Gauff secured a huge payday despite her WTA Finals defeat to Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday night. Sabalenka defeated Gauff in straight sets, 7-6 (5), 6-2, in Saudi Arabia.
The round-robin concluded with a battle of heavyweights as Gauff and the 27-year-old faced off. It was the first time the two had faced met since the French Open final. But after her straight-sets victory, Sabalenka will now face Amanda Anisimova on Friday in a repeat of September’s US Open final. Speaking after the game, the Belarusian told Sky Sports: «We always have great battles.
«It’s enjoyable playing against her because I know it’s going to be a great fight.
«Whenever I focus on myself and what I have to do, without getting over-emotional and just staying in the zone – that’s the key for me.
«I was just trying to stay aggressive, find my rhythm and find my game. I was working for the second set already, but then magically was able to turn things around. [I’m] super happy with the performance, super happy to get this win in straight sets and just happy to be through the round robin.”
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But despite her defeat, Gauff claimed a huge £270k ($355,000) in winnings after she beat Jasmine Paolini earlier this week. Coupled with her £259k ($340,000) participation fee, she will take home £529k ($695,000) in earnings from Riyadh.
Gauff’s exit also means there is guaranteed to be a first-time WTA Finals champion on Saturday. But speaking earlier this week, Jean-Cristophe Faurel, Gauff’s coach for the past six years on and off, has been impressed with her competitiveness in big moments.
“She’s amazing in the ability she has to just close everything,” he said. “For me, the French Open final is the best example.
“Like every player, she can be irritated, distracted when she plays — look at us [in the player’s box] too much. She maybe looked at us two times.
«She was in the zone. This makes her different from many, many players.
«Semi-finals, final, big match … she plays her best tennis most of the time. I think she’s 11 for 14 in finals.”
On facing Anisimova in the semi-finals, Sabalenka said: “That’s actually crazy. She’s an incredible player, we have great battles, I’m so happy to see her back, fighting, playing her best tennis.
«It’s always enjoyable playing against her. I think whenever I focus on myself, without getting over-emotional and staying in the zone, that’s the key for me.”
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
