Coco Gauff defeats Jessica Pegula in all-American final at Wuhan WTA 1000
Former doubles partners Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula competed as singles opponents Sunday at the Wuhan WTA 1000. In the first WTA singles final between the American friends, the third-seeded Gauff won the final four games to earn a 6-4, 7-5 victory in China.
The victory made Gauff the first WTA player to win each of her first nine hard-court singles finals, a record that also includes her triumph in the 2023 US Open final. The Wuhan title is Gauff's second of the 2025 season, after she won her second Grand Slam crown on the clay of Roland Garros. Built for the big stages, she owns an 11-3 overall singles record in tour-level title matches.
Gauff did not lose a set in her five Wuhan wins and was never pushed as far as a tiebreak. The 21-year-old beat seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, 6-4, 6-3, in the semis before facing her toughest test against her former doubles partner.
“When I came on tour, you were one of the first people to be nice to me and welcome me with open arms,” Gauff told Pegula during the trophy ceremony. “That really went a long way, so I appreciate you. It’s great to finally play in the final against you, and I hope for many more. So, congratulations and thank you.”
Pegula recorded each of her four wins in three sets on the way to the final, including a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) upset of world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semis.
“You’re the three-set queen,” Gauff added, alluding to the sixth seed's marathon run. “So I was determined not to let you get there today, because it felt like the odds would be in your favor in the third set.”
Coco Gauff won her second singles title of 2025 in Wuhan. Photo by Wang He/Getty Images.
Pegula still holds a 4-3 lead against Gauff in their head-to-head. As a doubles pair, the duo reached eight WTA finals and won five titles from 2022-23.
"We've spent a lot of time together and, even though I'm a bit older, I always admire and respect her so much," the 31-year-old Pegula said of her countrywoman. "She's just so mature for her age."
Gauff has now won two straight singles matches against Pegula, including their round-robin matchup at the WTA Finals last year. With her run to the Wuhan final, Pegula booked her place alongside Gauff, Amanda Anisimova and Madison Keys at this year's season finale in Riyadh. The four American singles players to qualify for the event are the most since 2003.
Read more: Gauff, Anisimova, Pegula, Keys qualify for 2025 WTA Finals in historic U.S. feat
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