WUHAN, China — In a thrilling all-American showdown, Coco Gauff surged to victory over Jessica Pegula with a scoreline of 6-4, 7-5, clinching the Wuhan Open title on Sunday.
The 21-year-old Gauff celebrated her second title of the season, adding to her impressive resume that now boasts 11 career championships, including a triumph at the French Open earlier this year.
Ranked third in the world, Gauff was down 5-3 in the second set but rebounded fiercely, holding her serve before breaking the sixth-ranked Pegula to level the set at 5-5.
With a forehand volley from Pegula sailing wide, Gauff earned her first match point. Seizing the moment, she delivered a decisive forehand winner after a brief exchange, sealing the match.
“Winning every match in straight sets during the tournament is something I’m not sure I’ve ever done on a title run,” Gauff expressed. “I’m really proud of my journey this week, independent of today’s outcome.”
Pegula, 31, had made a stunning comeback in the semifinals against top seed Aryna Sabalenka. However, she couldn’t maintain her momentum in the final, missing out on her 10th career title while Gauff became the second American ever to win in Wuhan, following Venus Williams in 2015.
This match marked their seventh face-off, but the first in a championship round. While Pegula leads their rivalry 4-3, both have also shared success in WTA doubles tournaments.
During the trophy presentation, Gauff remarked, “When I first came on tour, you were among the first to warmly welcome me. That really meant a lot, so thank you. It’s amazing to finally compete in a final against you, and I look forward to many more.”
With this victory, Gauff improved her finals record to 11-3, while Pegula’s stands at 9-11.
“Even though I’m older, I’ve always admired and respected her,” Pegula said. “She possesses incredible maturity for her age.”
