Image source, ReutersImage caption, Coco Gauff won the WTA Finals title in 2024
Coco Gauff showed all of her battling qualities as she fought through a back injury to beat Marta Kostyuk and keep her WTA Finals last-four hopes alive.
American Gauff was visibly in pain as she received treatment on her lower back midway through a match she needed to win to stay in the tournament.
She found herself 5-1 down in the second set - only to win six games in a row to complete a 6-4 7-5 win at Indian Wells.
"Physically, I wasn't at my best, which I'm not really used to," Gauff told Sky Sports.
"It was like a mental challenge, learning how to play through that."
The long tennis season has taken a toll on a number of players, with Ukraine's Kostyuk also receiving treatment on a wrist injury that has been hampering her since August.
It is the second time that Gauff has overturned a 5-1 deficit at this tournament, having done the same to beat Jessica Pegula on Sunday.
However, the 22-year-old admitted she was not expecting it to happen again, and was already preparing herself for a third set.
"I asked my physio at 5-2 down, what can I do on the bathroom break [between sets] to try and loosen up," Gauff said.
Gauff will need Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova to beat Pegula in the final group match if she is to reach the semi-finals.
Gauff struggled with her serve throughout, producing nine double faults to one ace, but said afterwards she struggled to get through her motion without feeling pain.
Kostyuk - a late call-up to the season-ending finals after Elena Rybakina's withdrawal - also struggled to generate pace and spin because of her wrist problem.
World number four Gauff came back from an early break down to take the first set, but immediately ran into problems in the second.
She called for the trainer after going 3-0 down but soon trailed by a double break, with Kostyuk saving three break points inbetween.
However, with her movement hampered and the crowd behind her, Gauff was able to swing hard and ultimately outlast Kostyuk.
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