Gauff upsets Sabalenka and sets up showdown with Zheng for WTA Finals title

News

Gauff upsets Sabalenka and sets up showdown with Zheng for WTA Finals title

2024-11-09 20:51 Last Updated At：21:00

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Coco Gauff defeated top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 7-6 (4), 6-3 Friday and set up a showdown with Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in the final of the WTA Finals.

Gauff generated six break points to Sabalenka’s four and built on early momentum in the opening set’s tiebreak that she carried through to the second set.

Click to Gallery

Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski, signs for fans during her women's doubles semi final match against Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the U.S. and Australia's Ellen Perez at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Katerina Siniakova, left, of the Czech Republic, greets Taylor Townsend of the United States, right, during their women's doubles match against Taiwan's Chan Hao-ching and Russia's Veronika Kudermetova in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova, in action with China's Qinwen Zheng during women's singles semi final match at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her women's singles semi final match against Coco Gauff of the U.S. at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Coco Gauff of the U.S. in action during her women's singles semi final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova, left, shakes hands with winner China's Qinwen Zheng after their women's singles semifinal match at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova shoots against China's Qinwen Zheng during their women's singles semi final match at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

China's Qinwen Zheng shoots the ball during her women's singles semi final match against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

China's Qinwen Zheng returns the ball during her women's singles semifinal match against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her women's singles semi final match against Coco Gauff of the U.S. at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Coco Gauff of the U.S. in action during her women's singles semi final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

More Images

Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski, signs for fans during her women's doubles semi final match against Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the U.S. and Australia's Ellen Perez at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Katerina Siniakova, left, of the Czech Republic, greets Taylor Townsend of the United States, right, during their women's doubles match against Taiwan's Chan Hao-ching and Russia's Veronika Kudermetova in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova, in action with China's Qinwen Zheng during women's singles semi final match at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her women's singles semi final match against Coco Gauff of the U.S. at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Coco Gauff of the U.S. in action during her women's singles semi final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova, left, shakes hands with winner China's Qinwen Zheng after their women's singles semifinal match at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova shoots against China's Qinwen Zheng during their women's singles semi final match at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

China's Qinwen Zheng shoots the ball during her women's singles semi final match against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

China's Qinwen Zheng returns the ball during her women's singles semifinal match against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her women's singles semi final match against Coco Gauff of the U.S. at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Coco Gauff of the U.S. in action during her women's singles semi final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

She’s the youngest player at 20 to make the final at the WTA Finals since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010.

Zheng earlier defeated Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 7-5 to book her place in Saturday's final.

Zheng continued her remarkable season by reaching the decider in her first appearance. The Chinese player has won 31 of her 36 matches since Wimbledon, more than anyone else on the tour.

Zheng struck nine aces as she defeated a tired-looking Krejcikova in 1 hour, 40 minutes.

The man who died in a Las Vegas Cybertruck was shot in head before explosion, sheriff sais

2025-01-03 03:18 Last Updated At：03:21

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The person inside the Tesla Cybertruck that burst into flames outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel suffered a gunshot to the head before the explosion, officials said Thursday.

Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a news conference that a handgun was found at the feet of the man who's been identified as Matthew Livelsberger. Officials believe the shot was self-inflicted.

Livelsberger served in the Green Berets, highly trained special forces who work to counter terrorism abroad and train partners, the Army said in a statement. He had served in the Army since 2006, rising through the ranks with a long career of overseas assignments, deploying twice to Afghanistan and serving in Ukraine, Tajikistan, Georgia and Congo, the Army said.

He was awarded two Bronze Stars, including one with a valor device for courage under fire, a combat infantry badge and an Army Commendation Medal with valor. Livelsberger was on approved leave when he died, according to the statement.

The FBI said Thursday in a post on X that it was “conducting law enforcement activity” at a home in Colorado Springs related to Wednesday's explosion but provided no other details.

The explosion of the truck, packed with firework mortars and camp fuel canisters, came hours after 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar rammed a truck into a crowd in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter early on New Year’s Day, killing at least 15 people before being shot to death by police. That crash was being investigated as a terrorist attack. The FBI said Thursday that they believe Jabbar acted alone, reversing its position from a day earlier that he likely worked with others.

Both Livelsberger and Jabbar spent time at the base formerly known as Fort Bragg, a massive Army base in North Carolina that is home to multiple Army special operations units. However, one of the officials who spoke to the AP said there is no overlap in their assignments at the base, now called Fort Liberty.

Chris Raia, FBI deputy assistant director, said Thursday that officials have found ‘no definitive link’ between the New Orleans attack and the truck explosion in Las Vegas.

Seven people nearby suffered minor injuries when the Tesla truck exploded. Video showed a tumble of charred fireworks mortars, canisters and other explosive devices crowded into the back of the pickup. The truck bed walls were still intact because the blast shot straight up rather than to the sides.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Wednesday afternoon on X that “we have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself."

"All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion,” Musk wrote.

Musk has recently become a member of Trump’s inner circle. Neither Trump nor Musk was in Las Vegas early Wednesday. Both had attended Trump’s New Year’s Eve party at his South Florida estate.

Authorities know who rented the truck with the Turo app in Colorado, Kevin McMahill, the elected sheriff of Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, said Wednesday. He did not release the person’s ID, however.

Copp, Richer and Long contributed from Washington.

Gauff upsets Sabalenka and sets up showdown with Zheng for WTA Finals title

News

Gauff upsets Sabalenka and sets up showdown with Zheng for WTA Finals title

Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski, signs for fans during her women's doubles semi final match against Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the U.S. and Australia's Ellen Perez at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Katerina Siniakova, left, of the Czech Republic, greets Taylor Townsend of the United States, right, during their women's doubles match against Taiwan's Chan Hao-ching and Russia's Veronika Kudermetova in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova, in action with China's Qinwen Zheng during women's singles semi final match at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her women's singles semi final match against Coco Gauff of the U.S. at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Coco Gauff of the U.S. in action during her women's singles semi final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova, left, shakes hands with winner China's Qinwen Zheng after their women's singles semifinal match at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova shoots against China's Qinwen Zheng during their women's singles semi final match at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

China's Qinwen Zheng shoots the ball during her women's singles semi final match against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

China's Qinwen Zheng returns the ball during her women's singles semifinal match against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her women's singles semi final match against Coco Gauff of the U.S. at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her women's singles semi final match against Coco Gauff of the U.S. at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Coco Gauff of the U.S. in action during her women's singles semi final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Coco Gauff of the U.S. in action during her women's singles semi final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski, signs for fans during her women's doubles semi final match against Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the U.S. and Australia's Ellen Perez at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Katerina Siniakova, left, of the Czech Republic, greets Taylor Townsend of the United States, right, during their women's doubles match against Taiwan's Chan Hao-ching and Russia's Veronika Kudermetova in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova, in action with China's Qinwen Zheng during women's singles semi final match at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her women's singles semi final match against Coco Gauff of the U.S. at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Coco Gauff of the U.S. in action during her women's singles semi final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova, left, shakes hands with winner China's Qinwen Zheng after their women's singles semifinal match at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova shoots against China's Qinwen Zheng during their women's singles semi final match at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

China's Qinwen Zheng shoots the ball during her women's singles semi final match against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

China's Qinwen Zheng returns the ball during her women's singles semifinal match against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her women's singles semi final match against Coco Gauff of the U.S. at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her women's singles semi final match against Coco Gauff of the U.S. at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Coco Gauff of the U.S. in action during her women's singles semi final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Coco Gauff of the U.S. in action during her women's singles semi final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka at King Saud University Indoor Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo)

Next Article

The man who died in a Las Vegas Cybertruck was shot in head before explosion, sheriff sais

Stock market today: Wall Street slips to kick off 2025 as Tesla drags

Middle East latest: Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 26, including 3 kids

Montenegro mourns after gunman kills at least 12 people before shooting himself

The Latest: The FBI now says the New Orleans truck attacker acted alone in an ‘act of terrorism’

Tesla sales dropped 1.1% in 2024, its first annual decline in a dozen years

A small caravan of migrants sets out from southern Mexico but is unlikely to reach the US

Sleepypod Unveils Clickit Range Car Safety Harness, Addressing the Challenge of Restraining Dogs with Narrow and Deep Chests