'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Coco Gauff received a heartfelt message from American online streamer Valkyrae upon winning the 2024 WTA Finals. The 20-year-old became the youngest player since Maria Sharapova in 2004 to win the year-end championship.
Gauff kicked off her 2024 season with a title in Auckland in January. However, the American struggled to reach a final on the tour until October when she defeated Karolina Muchova in the final of the China Open to win her second title of the season. Her deep runs at several events helped her qualify for the WTA Finals comfortably.
At the year-end championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Gauff got the better of World No. 2 Iga Swiatek and World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to reach the final where she defeated Zheng Qinwen in a tightly contested battle 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) on November 9.
Trending
Addressing her supporters after her triumph, Gauff wrote on X:
"muah 💋💜 Also, I know tend to focus on “doubters/haters” but this one is really for all of my supporters! Ya’ll held it down for me win or lose! I thank you for that. I see you and I appreciate you. And I know some of you are a little bit petty like me so it does feel nice to silence them for a bit🤗"
Rachell Marie Hofstetter, an American online streamer and YouTuber better known as Valkyrae, commented on the post:
"IM SO PROUD OF YOU🎉🎉🎉🎉"
The 20-year-old responded:
"thank you soooo much 🙏🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾"
"I’ve been watching her since I was 13 years old" - When Coco Gauff opened up about how Valkyrae's streams help her through tough times
In July 2022, Coco Gauff uploaded a TikTok video of several images of Valkyrae with the famous line, "I think you may have accidentally saved my life," playing in the background. She captioned her TikTok:
"I’ve been watching her since I was 13 years old and happy, sad or whatever, Valkyrae was who I would and still watch. After every match, win or lose, I always watch her lol. Her streams got me through some pretty crap times. Thanks Valkyrae," Coco Gauff captioned the post.
Later, in October 2022, Gauff met Valkyrae at the Twitchcon. The tennis star posted an image with the streamer and wrote:
"Top 3 favorite moments I’ve ever experienced. Nicest person ever @Valkyrae ! thank you for being so sweet and spreading so much positivity in the world <3 you are such a light."
After winning the 2024 WTA Finals, Gauff confirmed a year-end World No. 3 rank. Ahead of her are World No. 2 Iga Swiatek and first-time year-end World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
