Gauff generated six break points to Sabalenka’s four and built on early momentum in the opening set’s tiebreak that she carried through to the second set.

American Coco Gauff defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(4) 6-3 in the semi-finals of the WTA Finals on Friday and will take on China's Zheng Qinwen in the showpiece match.Sabalenka will end the year at the top of the world rankings but her bid for a maiden WTA Finals title was ended by Gauff who reached her first final at the end-of-season event.

Coco Gauff may be saving the best for last. In what is shaping up to be potentially her best week of the season, Coco Gauff beat the world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in two turbulent sets Friday to set up a championship battle against the Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen this weekend at the WTA Tour Finals.