A Comeback That Almost Did Not Happen
Coco Gauff has made a habit of doing the improbable at this year's WTA Finals in Indian Wells. The 22-year-old American produced yet another stunning reversal on Thursday, overturning a 5-1 second-set deficit against Marta Kostyuk to win 6-4, 7-5 and stay in contention for the last four. What made the victory even more remarkable was that Gauff was visibly struggling with a lower back problem throughout, calling for the trainer after falling 3-0 down in the second set and admitting afterward that every serve caused her pain. She finished with nine double faults and just one ace, a sharp sign of how much discomfort she carried through her service motion. Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Gauff described it as "a mental challenge, learning how to play through that," adding that she was already asking her physio how to loosen up during a bathroom break between sets, only to find there was no bathroom break needed because the comeback had already begun.
Late Drama and a Path Still Open
This was actually the second time in the same tournament that Gauff clawed back from a 5-1 second-set hole, having done exactly the same against Jessica Pegula on Sunday. Kostyuk, a late addition to the season-ending event following Elena Rybakina's withdrawal, was fighting her own physical battle, nursing a wrist injury that has bothered her since August. That limited her ability to generate pace and spin, and ultimately Gauff's movement and crowd support proved the difference. Gauff's route to the semi-finals still runs through others: she will need Linda Noskova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, to defeat Pegula in the final group-stage match. TennisDraw users who backed Gauff as a semifinalist still have reason to believe.
