FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) —
Coco Gauff is hardly an unknown quantity at this point, even though
she is still just 18.
The Floridian has proven herself by rising steadily through the rankings,
up to a career-best No. 4 currently, and progressing steadily through Grand Slam brackets, including an appearance in her first major final at the French Open in June.
Gauff took the latest step in her evolution as a professional tennis player by qualifying for the first time in singles and doubles at the
WTA Finals, which begin Monday on an indoor hard court set up in Dickies Arena.
She is one of four women making a singles debut at the season-ending event; only eight qualify.
“It is significant that there’s a lot of new faces. It shows that the tour is always evolving,” Gauff said Saturday after practicing with her doubles partner, Jessica Pegula, another player from the U.S. who is participating in the WTA Finals for the first time. “There’s always going to be someone coming up and doing well. That’s what makes it exciting.”