Aryna Sabalenka has ‘no room for disappointment’ as she backs Coco Gauff after WTA Finals exit

Aryna Sabalenka didn’t quite finish her 2024 tennis season on a high, but it has still been an incredible campaign for the world No 1.
The three-time Grand Slam winner’s year came to an abrupt end in the semi-final of the WTA Finals in Riyadh as she went down 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 against Coco Gauff.
Sabalenka ends the season with a 56–14 win-loss record, four singles titles and the year-end No 1 ranking.
The impressive part of the four titles is the fact that they were at some of the biggest tournaments as she won two majors – the Australian Open and US Open – and two WTA 1000 events at the Cincinnati Open and the Wuhan Open, while she also finished runner-up at three events.
She returned to No 1 in the WTA Rankings as she replaced Iga Swiatek at the top after the US Open and will finish the year there after the Pole lost early in Riyadh.
Her wait for a maiden WTA Finals trophy goes on, but the 26-year-old sees her glass as half full.
“I think I achieved a lot this season, and there is no room for disappointment, I believe. I just have to be proud of myself,” she said.
“I won two majors, became world No 1, finished the year world No 1 as I wanted last year.”
Sabalenka added: “Just super excited for next year and just want to push myself in those extra moments where I didn’t close matches I had to close.
“So just going to keep working on my game, keep working mentally and make sure I’m fresh at the beginning of the season, and make sure that I’ll bring my best tennis in Australia again.”
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The Belarusian lost her way during the tie-breaker against Gauff as the American raced into a 4-0 lead. The 20-year-old then got back-to-back breaks early in the second set for a 4-1 lead and, although Sabalenka fought back, she was broken for a third time as the third seed wrapped it up.
Gauff, who will face Zheng Qinwen in the WTA Finals finale, has impressed the world No 1.
“I have respect for her, you know. She’s a fighter, she’s a great player, she’s a nice person. So, I just wish her best of luck in the finals and I really hope she’s going to get this match. She deserves it,” she said.