Gauff beats Pegula in WTA Finals opener: 'Hopefully we'll play again in the final'

In the opening match for both American singles competitors at the 2024 WTA Finals, Coco Gauff defeated Jessica Pegula, 6-3, 6-2, on Sunday in group-stage play. The victory—Gauff's biggest of the year by measure of the WTA rankings—lifts the world No. 3 into first place in the Orange Group, ahead of Iga Swiatek (1-0) and Barbora Krejcikova (0-1).

Gauff's triumph against the world No. 6 was the 20th Top 10 win of her young career. She snapped world No. 6 Pegula's 14-match winning streak against fellow Americans with her perfect start at the season finale in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Now 2-4 in her head-to-head with her friend and frequent doubles partner, Gauff also ended a three-match losing streak in their singles rivalry.

"It was a tough match. She’s always a tough opponent. Overall I’m just happy with how I played," said Gauff, who hit 16 winners and converted five of eight break points. "I think we were both playing at a high level, I was just able to break through on some of the more important points."

The Americans also squared off last year at the WTA Finals, when Pegula scored a dominant 6-2, 6-1 win. This year, the pair could meet in the championship match if both advance through the knockout rounds.

"I root for her, so hopefully we'll play again in the final," the third-seeded Gauff told Sky Sports after the match. "Every point she gives you nothing, really. Every point I feel like I have to earn."

Both Americans will be back in action Tuesday, when Gauff battles Swiatek for first place in the group and Pegula takes on Krejcikova with both players looking to avoid an 0-2 start.

In her last competitive outing before Riyadh, Gauff hit 21 double faults in a three-set defeat to Aryna Sabalenka in the Wuhan semifinals. On Sunday, she hit only two doubles and dropped serve just twice on three break points.

In Riyadh doubles action, two Americans picked up opening victories on Saturday. Taylor Townsend teamed with Katerina Siniakova for a 3-6, 6-3, 11-9 win against top seeds and reigning US Open champions Jelena Ostapenko and Lyudmyla Kichenok, while Nicole Melichar-Martinez partnered Ellen Perez for a 1-6, 6-1, 10-6 victory over third seeds Hsieh Su-Wei and Elise Mertens. The American-Czech and American-Australian teams will square off on Monday for first place in the Green Group.

On Sunday, the all-American duo of Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk dropped a 1-6, 6-1, 10-4 decision to Italians Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani. They will next play Chan Hao-Ching and Veronika Kudermetova on Tuesday in the White Group.