Cori Gauff admits she is grateful to be among the WTA Finals participants as she feels it is a great indication that her career is trending in a positive direction. Gauff, 18, qualified for the singles and doubles events at the WTA Finals.
By qualifying for the WTA Finals, Gauff became the youngest WTA Finals participant since Maria Sharapova, who was 17 at the 2004 WTA Finals. Gauff may be just 18 but she has been around the Tour for over three years now – since her stunning run to the Wimbledon round-of-16 at the age of 15 in 2019.
“I think it just shows that I’m progressing. Sometimes I forget that I am. I think it allows me to take a step back and realize that I am one of the top eight players in the world, and I should be grateful for that.
I think it is significant that there’s a lot of new faces. I think it shows that the tour is always evolving. There’s always going to be someone coming up and doing well. I think that’s what makes it exciting,” Gauff said, per the WTA website.
Gauff on Jessica Pegula
Gauff is also set to compete in the WTA Finals doubles event with fellow American Pegula. Gauff and Pegula have won three titles together this year and they also finished runners-up at the French Open.
Gauff, who is 10 years younger than Pegula, has nothing but good to say of her doubles partner. “I don’t think anyone has anything bad to say about her. She’s so humble, so kind. Her team, too, her husband, everyone, her sister.
I’ve gotten to know her family a little bit. They’re all very nice people. When you are going week in and week out every time, these weeks can be a little tiring, but having a person that you get along with definitely helps,” Gauff said of Pegula. It remains to be seen if Gauff can cap off her season by winning the singles and doubles titles at the WTA Finals.