Gauff beats Kostyuk despite back injury to keep WTA Finals hopes alive

Coco Gauff beat Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 7-5 at the WTA Finals despite a painful lower-back problem, keeping her hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive. She now needs Linda Noskova to beat Jessica Pegula in the final group match to progress.

Gauff called for treatment midway through the second set, as she fell 3-0 behind and then trailed 5-1. She responded by winning six games in a row to close out the match.

“Physically, I wasn’t at my best, which I’m not really used to,” Gauff told Sky Sports. She described playing through the problem as “a mental challenge”.

The 22-year-old said she had begun preparing for a deciding set and asked her physiotherapist what she could do during a break to loosen up. “And then there was no bathroom break!” she said.

Gauff struggled with her serve, hitting nine double faults and one ace. She said she had difficulty completing her serving motion without pain. It was the second time in the tournament she had recovered from 5-1 down in a set, having also done so against Pegula on Sunday.

Kostyuk, who was called up after Elena Rybakina withdrew, also received treatment. The Ukrainian has been troubled by a wrist injury since August and struggled to generate pace and spin, according to BBC Sport.