Coco Gauff rolls to third career WTA singles title in Auckland

Playing as the No. 1 seed at a WTA event for the first time, American teenager Coco Gauff started her 2023 season in the best possible way: The 18-year-old cruised to her third career WTA singles title at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. 

Gauff dropped just 22 games in 10 sets at the WTA 250 event, never losing more than four games in a single set. She beat last year's Wimbledon semifinalist Tatjana Maria and 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin en route, and eased to a 6-1, 6-1 win over Spanish qualifier Rebeka Masarova in Sunday's final. 

It's Gauff's second title on hard courts, and first on the surface since she triumphed at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz in October of 2019. 

Gauff's toughest challenge of the week came from Mother Nature. The ASB Classic was plagued by rain throughout the week, and Gauff played both her second round and quarterfinal matches indoors to keep the event on schedule. 

"Honestly, a great week for me despite the rain," Gauff said in victory. "Couldn't ask for a better start to my season. First title on hard since I was 15. I'm happy to be successful on a surface that I love."

Road to the Championship - Coco Gauff

R1: def. Tatjana Maria (GER) - 6-4, 6-1

R2: def. (WC) Sofia Kenin (USA) - 6-4, 6-4

QF: def. Zhu Lin (CHN) - 6-3, 6-2

SF: def. (7) Danka Kovinic (MNE) 6-0, 6-2

F: def (Q) Rebeka Masarova (ESP) - 6-1, 6-1