Defeat Elina Svitolina, Coco Gauff Defends Auckland Classic Title

JAKARTA - Coco Gauff beat Elina Svitolina in a tiring three-set final on Sunday to defend the Auckland Classic title in New Zealand in the ideal warm-up for the Australian Open.

The world number three and top seed from America showed his persistence by rising to win 6-7(4/7), 6-3, 6-3 against second seed from Ukraine, whose performance was doubtful after limping in the semifinals the night before the final.

However, Svitolina fully tested the US Open Champion for the first time by losing the first set of the tournament.

"This is the first time I have to defend the title, so I am very happy to be able to do it today," said Gauff, who won his first Grand Slam title in New York in September, as broadcast by AFP.

The 19-year-old gauff got into a fierce baseline fight against world number 25 showing no sign of a back and ankle injury he suffered while claiming a three-set win in the semi-finals over Chinese tennis player Wang Xiyu.

Svitolina only returned to tour in April last year after giving birth.

"I would like to congratulate Elina for this amazing week," said Gauff ahead of his trip to Melbourne for this year's first Grand Slam which starts in seven days.

"What you do, become a mother and come back so fast and be at such a high level is quite inspiring. Hopefully, not in the near future, I can do it the way you've done."

Svitolina, three Grand Slam semifinalists, fought back before winning the tiebreak.

Gauff began to find his rhythm as he equalized in the second set. Along with that, his confidence was increasing and his number of enforced errors was reduced.

Gauff finished the match taking the only break in the third set and won the eighth WTA title in two hours 35 minutes.

"It's been an amazing experience to be able to play for the first time here," said Svitolina.

"Of course it was a tough defeat today, but I hope to come back next year too."