Coco Gauff Rallies to Capture Wuhan Crown in All-American Final Against Pegula
Coco Gauff triumphed over Jessica Pegula, winning 6-4, 7-5 to secure her third WTA 1000 title in a thrilling all-American final at the Wuhan Open. This victory marks Gauff’s first title in Wuhan and adds to her impressive collection of achievements.
The French Open champion faced an uphill battle, trailing 0-3 in the second set. However, Gauff showcased her resilience, clawing back to reduce the deficit to 3-5 before rattling off four consecutive games to seal the match in straight sets.
With this win, the 21-year-old reached her 11th career WTA singles title and further solidified her status as a force in women’s tennis. Gauff’s previous WTA 1000 victories came in Cincinnati in 2023 and Beijing in 2024. This year alone, she has reached three finals at this level, following runner-up finishes in Madrid and Rome.
Gauff, currently ranked world number three, has made history by becoming the first woman in a decade to win nine consecutive hard-court finals. This remarkable feat was last achieved by tennis legend Serena Williams, who won 12 such finals between the 2013 U.S. Open and 2015 Cincinnati.
During the trophy presentation, Gauff expressed her appreciation for Pegula, 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 said. “I appreciate you. And it’s great to finally play in a final against you.”
Pegula, who had a remarkable run leading up to the final, defeated world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals, ending her impressive 20-match unbeaten streak in Wuhan. Known for her stamina, Pegula has played 27 three-set matches in 2025 alone, winning seven of her last eight matches that have gone the distance.
“You’ve been playing a lot of three-setters—you’re a three-set queen,” Gauff complimented Pegula. “I was determined not to let you get there today because I felt the odds would be in your favour in a third set.”
