Coco Gauff banks monster payday despite WTA Finals defeat to Aryna Sabalenka

Coco Gauff still guaranteed a monster payday despite her WTA Finals defeat to Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday night. The 27-year-old defeated Gauff in straight sets, 7-6 (5), 6-2, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The round-robin concluded with a battle of heavyweights as Gauff and Sabalenka faced off. It was the first time the two had faced each other since the French Open final. But after her straight-sets victory, Sabalenka will now face Amanda Anisimova on Friday in a repeat of September's US Open final. Speaking after the game, Sabalenka told Sky Sports: "We always have great battles.

"It's enjoyable playing against her because I know it's going to be a great fight. Whenever I focus on myself and what I have to do, without getting over-emotional and just staying in the zone - that's the key for me.

"I was just trying to stay aggressive, find my rhythm and find my game. I was working for the second set already, but then magically was able to turn things around. [I'm] super happy with the performance, super happy to get this win in straight sets and just happy to be through the round robin."

But despite her defeat, Gauff claimed a huge £270k ($355,000) in winnings after she beat Jasmine Paolini earlier this week. Coupled with her £259k ($340,000) participation fee, she will take home £529k ($695,000) in earnings from Riyadh.

Gauff's exit also means there is guaranteed to be a first-time WTA Finals champion on Saturday. But speaking earlier this week, Jean-Cristophe Faurel, Gauff's coach for the past six years on and off, admitted he had been impressed with her competitiveness in big moments.

"She's amazing in the ability she has to just close everything," he said. "For me, the French Open final is the best example.

"Like every player, she can be irritated, distracted when she plays -- look at us [in the player's box] too much. She maybe looked at us two times. She was in the zone.

"This makes her different from many, many players. Semifinals, final, big match ... she plays her best tennis most of the time. I think she's 11 for 14 in finals."