\n<\/p>\n
Sabalenka secured the year-end world number one ranking this week after a stellar season, but she was frustrated, error-prone and annoyed throughout against Gauff.<\/p>\n
Her forehand faltered – such a crucial component of her game – with 16 unforced errors coming off it in the first set.<\/p>\n
She and Gauff traded breaks early on but Gauff was serene on serve, able to extend the rally in the knowledge that Sabalenka would eventually hit an error.<\/p>\n
Despite the chaos, Sabalenka broke for a 6-5 lead and served for the set, but a netted backhand sent it to a tie-break, which Gauff dominated.<\/p>\n
After a lengthy bathroom break, Sabalenka started the second set better but another backhand miss hurried Gauff to an early break.<\/p>\n
Gauff reeled off four games in a row for a 4-1 lead before Sabalenka eventually retrieved one of the breaks – but she needed eight break points to do that after a mammoth Gauff service game.<\/p>\n
Given the erratic nature of the match, a break of the Sabalenka serve in the next game felt inevitable, and it was – as was Gauff being broken when she served for the match at 5-2.<\/p>\n
But Sabalenka could not delay the inevitable even on her serve, and a final netted backhand – her 37th unforced error of the night – secured victory for Gauff. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n