Linz: Gauff into first WTA final, Ostapenko next

American teenage sensation Coco Gauff progressed to her maiden WTA final as she eased past Germany’s Andrea Petkovic 6-4 6-4 at the Linz Open.

The 15-year-old Gauff on Saturday became the youngest player to reach a WTA final since Czech Republic’s Nicole Vaidisova won the Tashkent Open in 2004, also aged 15.

Coco Gauff is projected at about 72 if she wins the Linz title. Around 80 if she falls to Ostapenko in the final. 10-4 at WTA-level on the season now with a Top 10 win and four Top 50 wins.

Yes, it's incredible. She'll turn 16 at Indian Wells next year.

— Chris Oddo (@TheFanChild) October 12, 2019

Gauff only made it into the main draw of the event as a lucky loser — she lost her final-round qualifying match to Tamara Korpatsch — but has made her opportunity count with a barnstorming run to Sunday’s final, where she will meet 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.

Ostapenko, a former world No.5 currently ranked 72nd, advanced to her first final since Miami in March 2018 after beating Ekaterina Alexandrova 1-6 7-6(5) 7-5, saving three match points along the way.

Alexandrova led Ostapenko 6-1 3-1 and held a match point when she served for a place in the final at 6-5 in the second set; she also held another two match points in the third set when ahead 4-5, 15-40, yet Ostapenko served her way out of trouble.

What a fight from @JelenaOstapenk8, who saves 3 match points to reach her first WTA singles final of 2019! ????

She outlasts Alexandrova 1-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 at @WTALinz! pic.twitter.com/lUfH4jfmBw

— WTA (@WTA) October 12, 2019

Gauff faced 10 break points but recovered well to fend off nine of them against Petkovic in the semifinal, before sealing victory over the former world No.9 on her second match point.

“This is crazy,” Gauff said.  “I thought I was out in qualifying and now I’m here. Linz is my special place.

“This was one of the highest-level matches I’ve played. Andrea hit a lot of winners and put pressure on me.

“I was fighting for every point, even at break points down, I just tried to get the serve in and make her play a point.”

Gauff’s popularity has soared since she became the youngest player to qualify for the Wimbledon main draw in the professional era and reached the fourth round in July, beating seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams along the way.

She also enjoyed the home support at the US Open before falling to Naomi Osaka in the third round.

Having dropped just one set in her main draw matches in Linz this week, Gauff has already ensured a place in the top 100 when the new WTA rankings are released on Monday.