Coco Gauff secured victory at the Wuhan Open by claiming four consecutive games against Jessica Pegula, winning 6-4, 7-5 in an all-American final on Sunday. The 21-year-old Gauff clinched her second title of the year, adding to her French Open triumph on clay, bringing her total career titles to 11.
In a tense moment during the match, the third-ranked Gauff fought back from 5-3 down in the second set, holding her serve and breaking Pegula to level the score at 5-5. Gauff seized the opportunity when Pegula’s forehand volley went wide, earning her a match point. With a forehand winner after a brief rally, Gauff sealed the victory.
Reflecting on her performance, Gauff expressed pride in her undefeated run through the tournament, stating, “Winning every match in straight sets, I don’t know if I’ve done that before on a title run. I just felt like I was really proud of what I accomplished this week, regardless of the result today.”
Pegula, aged 31, who had defeated top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals, failed to maintain her momentum in the final, missing out on her tenth career title. Gauff’s victory made her the second American to win the Wuhan title after Venus Williams in 2015.
The final marked the seventh meeting between Gauff and Pegula, with Pegula leading 4-3 in their overall head-to-head record. Gauff praised Pegula at the trophy ceremony, acknowledging her support since joining the tour and expressing hope for more encounters in the future.
Gauff’s finals record improved to 11-3, while Pegula’s finals record dropped to 9-11. Pegula commended Gauff’s maturity, stating, “We’ve spent a lot of time together and, even though I’m a bit older, I always admire and respect her so much. She’s just so mature for her age.”
