Gauff 0-2 Noskova: return points 30-17 decide a serve-tied WTA Finals night

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Twenty-three first-serve points won each. Eight aces against nine. On serve, Coco Gauff and Linda Noskova were barely distinguishable at the WTA Finals on Tuesday — and yet the result read 0-2, 6-3, 6-3 to Noskova, built on the return.

The first set showed where Gauff's problems lived. Six double faults undermined a night on which she still landed 68% of first serves. She broke Noskova twice and saved three of seven break points, but Noskova broke her four times and outscored her 21-11 on return in the set. Games: 3-6.

The second set swung further. Noskova served eight aces in it — after one in the first — faced no break point at all, and converted the only one she created to close it 6-3. Gauff won six receiving points in that set, saved one of two break points and trailed 17-20 in service points.

Noskova's night was framed by the return game. She collected 30 receiving points to Gauff's 17 across the match, rode that gap to a 63-47 edge in total points, and paired nine aces with just five double faults while Gauff gave away eight. Her five breaks of serve against Gauff's two told the same story.

Dead level on serve, five breaks to two on return. Noskova made the difference on the other side of the net — and the scoreboard signed off without appeal.