The WTA Finals kicked off in Indian Wells, California, with Coco Gauff winning a thriller in front of a sell-out crowd, while Linda Noskova marked her tournament debut with a victory. The site, familiar to tennis fans and players as home of the BNP Paribas Open, has a completely different energy with this end of year WTA takeover.
Unobstructed by the temporary stadiums and sponsor village that are set up for the March event, the grounds of the tennis center now have clear views of the surrounding mountains. While the players are still using the lounges and amenities in Stadium 1, all matches are played in the more intimate Stadium 2 with seating for 8,000.
The sold-out first session featured the players from Group 1. Linda Noskova [8] played alternate Marta Kostyuk. The Czech player won her Finals debut 6-2 6-4. She was originally scheduled to play world No. 1 Elena Rybakina, who withdrew Saturday morning due to a viral illness.
The reigning Wimbledon champ had no trouble readjusting for her new opponent with little time to prepare. After the decisive victory, the 21-year-old told media: “Obviously having new opponents or getting to know this fact just 24 hours before actually playing a match is not the comfiest position that you can be in, but I don’t think that I really mind it. Usually I don’t really care who I’m playing against.”
Coco Gauff [4] defeated fellow American Jessica Pegula [5] in a topsy-turvy 6-4 6-7(5) 6-2 match that stretched 2:39 hours. Pegula had Gauff on the ropes in the second set racing to a 5-1 lead before the 22-year-old fought her way back to a 6-5 position in the set, earning a match point. Still, they split sets with a 5-7 tiebreak. In the decider, Gauff held her advantage throughout, and won the match on her serve.
The 32-year-old was complimentary of her former doubles partner, saying: “It’s always tough against her. She makes you earn every single point in every game […] It’s just such a fine line of trying to be aggressive and not overplay, and honestly her movement, I say this every time, but it is the best on tour.”
Gauff’s spirits were high when she met with press after her win. Asked about the recent hot mic recording, in which Pegula made an unflattering comparison between Gauff and Andreeva, the world No. 4 dismissed any suggestion that there may be any lingering resentment after apologies from player and coach, “I know her heart and it’s all good. I don’t feel any type, we’re cool.”
With the tournament moved to home soil, Gauff’s little brother was able to travel to see her, and apparently the two got carried away playing video games late on Saturday night and were called out by a friend in the next room: “Me and my brother were screaming playing Fortnite and we kind of forgot we were in a hotel. So we’re working on keeping our noise down, but I’ll be back on the game tonight for sure.”
The US relocation also made it possible for Gunna, who recently featured her in a music video, to attend the match. Gauff told the media she arranged for Chris Eubanks to start coaching the rapper back home in Atlanta and offered to hit with him one day, provided he keeps practicing and can handle a rally with her.
The Group 1 round robin will pick up again Tuesday.
