Coco Gauff captured the biggest title of her career on Sunday afternoon, defeating Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-3 in the final of the Mubadala Citi Open in Washington, DC. Gauff struck seven aces and completely dominated in the return game, breaking Sakkari six times to triumph in one hour and 31 minutes.
The American is now 4-1 lifetime in WTA finals, including 2-0 in 2023. Her most recent victory had come at the beginning of this season on the hard courts of Auckland. Gauff’s Washington, DC success is her first of the 500-point variety.
Gauff dominant during run to Washington, DC title
It was an all around remarkable run Gauff, who did not drop a set all week long and did not even get pushed to a single tiebreaker. Prior to Sunday’s result, the 19-year-old beat American qualifier Hailey Baptiste (6-1, 6-4), Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic (6-1, 6-2) and defending champion Liudmila Samsonova (6-3, 6-3).
It was still a productive week for Sakkari, who reached the final by defeating Canadian qualifier Leylah Fernandez (7-5, 6-2), American Madison Keys (6-3, 6-3) and top-seeded American Jessica Pegula (6-3, 4-6, 6-2). The world No 9 is now 1-7 lifetime in WTA finals.
