Pegula Shatters Sabalenka’s Wuhan Streak, Sets Up Final Clash with Gauff
In a thrilling semifinal showdown at the Wuhan Open, Jessica Pegula ended Aryna Sabalenka’s perfect tournament record with a dramatic 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) victory, setting the stage for an all-American final against Coco Gauff.
Pegula displayed resilience throughout the match, clawing back from a daunting 2-5 deficit in the final set to shock the world No. 1 and secure her place in the finals. This victory marks Pegula’s sixth final of the season, highlighting her remarkable form despite the grueling schedule.
“I can’t believe I came back and won that,” Pegula exclaimed after the match. “I’m just really proud of myself. I’ve played so much tennis the last few weeks, but I feel like I’m very tough right now, and I’m just using that as best I can.”
The match began with both players struggling to hold serve, resulting in five breaks in the first six games. Sabalenka, who entered the contest with an impressive 20-0 record at the Wuhan Open, managed to consolidate her early lead, taking the first set in just 40 minutes.
Despite a rocky start, Pegula found her rhythm in the second set, overcoming a 2-0 deficit to force a decisive third set. The final set was a back-and-forth battle, with Pegula appearing to be on the brink of defeat when Sabalenka served for the match at 5-3. However, Pegula flipped the script, taking the lead at 6-5.
In a tense conclusion, Pegula faced adversity while serving for the match, double-faulting four times and allowing Sabalenka to force a tiebreak. Yet, when it mattered most, Pegula elevated her game, clinching her third victory in 11 meetings against Sabalenka and ending the Belarusian’s 20-match winning streak.
In the other semifinal, Coco Gauff battled through adversity to defeat Jasmine Paolini 6-4, 6-3. This victory marks a significant turnaround for Gauff, who had lost all three of her meetings with Paolini earlier in the season.
“It was tough, especially playing on the serve, but I did what I needed to do to get through,” Gauff reflected after her match. The 21-year-old, now the youngest woman in history to reach both the Beijing and Wuhan finals, continues to impress with her consistent performances.
The semifinal between Gauff and Paolini was characterized by an incredible run of 11 consecutive breaks of serve, but Gauff finally held serve in the pivotal seventh game of the second set, securing her spot in the final.
