Coco Gauff created even more history after becoming the fourth teenager since 2000 to make consecutive WTA Finals singles qualifications.
Gauff has had a fantastic summer on the American hard courts, having won a couple of titles in Washington and Cincinnati before capping it off with a sensational come-from-behind victory against Aryna Sabalenka to seal the US Open title.
The American has now officially qualified for both the singles and doubles event at the upcoming WTA Finals located in Cancun, Mexico, later this year. She will be looking to improve on her previous showing last season, where she bowed out in the Round Robin stage without picking up a single set in all three defeats.
It goes without saying that Gauff is much better placed to do much better at this particular tournament this time around. Gauff has managed to stabilise her obvious game weaknesses, improve the forehand substantially and found ways to make herself a bit more proactive. That will serve her well at the WTA Finals.
Perhaps what is significant about Gauff's qualification for the WTA Finals is that she is just the fourth teenager since back in 2000 to successfully qualify in two consecutive seasons. Not only does that show how difficult it is to do, but it also illustrates Gauff's consistency so early in her career.
The only other three players to achieve such a feat are Kim Clijsters, who did it in 2000-2002, Jelena Dokic in 2001-2002, and Maria Sharapova in 2004-2006.
The interesting part of Gauff's anticipated appearance at the event this time around is that she has now won 18 of her last 19 matches, and is very much in the form of her life. For the first time, Gauff will be considered as one of the big favourites to go deep at the event.
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