Wuhan Open semifinals feature Sabalenka, Gauff, Pegula, and Paolini in decisive battles for the title

The Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open semifinals, a WTA 1000 tournament held in Wuhan, China, bring together four top-10 players for the first time in nearly two years. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 3 Coco Gauff, No. 6 Jessica Pegula, and No. 8 Jasmine Paolini advanced after quarterfinal wins on Friday (10). The event takes place at the Optics Valley International Tennis Centre and awards 260 ranking points to the champion.

Sabalenka extended her unbeaten streak in the tournament to 20 matches by defeating Elena Rybakina 6-3, 6-3. Gauff dropped just nine games in six sets, beating Laura Siegemund 6-3, 6-0. Pegula overcame Katerina Siniakova in three sets, while Paolini eliminated Iga Swiatek 6-1, 6-2.

The matches are set for Saturday, with Gauff vs. Paolini at 5 a.m. ET and Sabalenka vs. Pegula to follow.

Semifinal matchups

The clash between Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini marks a direct rematch.

At 21, Gauff won eight of her last nine matches in Wuhan and Beijing. She hired coach Gavin MacMillan to refine her serve, resulting in only nine games conceded in six sets.

Paolini, riding high after defeating Swiatek for the first time in seven meetings, committed just three unforced errors.

Sabalenka’s dominance in Wuhan

Aryna Sabalenka is chasing her fourth consecutive title in the tournament.

The Belarusian holds a 20-0 record in Wuhan, a feat only surpassed by Serena Williams in a WTA 1000 event. She reached 11 semifinals this season as World No. 1, matching Serena’s record.

Against Pegula, Sabalenka leads 8-2 head-to-head, including wins in Madrid and the US Open.

Pegula, 31, secured her fourth straight WTA Finals spot by defeating Siniakova 2-6, 6-0, 6-3. She leads the WTA with 15 three-set wins in 2025.

• Sabalenka broke Rybakina’s serve three times in the quarterfinals.
• Pegula saved three match points in Beijing the previous week.
• Both adapted to Wuhan’s slow, humid conditions.

Paolini’s push for WTA Finals

Jasmine Paolini is the only semifinalist yet to secure a spot in the Riyadh WTA Finals.

A win over Gauff would earn crucial points to pull ahead of rivals like Rybakina and Andreeva. She won all three 2025 matches against Gauff in Stuttgart, Rome, and Cincinnati.

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Paolini praised Gauff’s maturity in a post-match interview. The Italian has been consistent with recent semifinal appearances.

Gauff refines serve for the duel

Coco Gauff reflects on her Cincinnati loss to Paolini in a tiebreak.

She took the first set but allowed a comeback. With an improved serve, Gauff aims for her first Wuhan final.

• Gauff won 15 matches in Chinese events over the past two years, more than any other player.
• Paolini redirected Swiatek’s powerful groundstrokes in the quarterfinals.
• Both seek extra motivation for the season’s playoffs.

Pegula adapts to Chinese conditions

Jessica Pegula is the oldest player to reach the semifinals in both Wuhan and Beijing in the same season.

She played seven consecutive three-set matches in the Asian swing. Pegula won the first set against Sabalenka at the US Open but lost overall.

Wuhan’s slow conditions challenge her style, yet she adjusted with 15 three-set wins this year. Pegula won four of her last five against top rivals.

Sabalenka has 11 top-10 wins in 2025. Pegula aims to break her streak in Wuhan for the first time.

Key head-to-head history

The semifinals feature intense rivalries.

Sabalenka and Pegula have clashed 10 times, with the Belarusian winning the last four. Gauff and Paolini are 3-2 for the Italian in 2025, but Gauff leads on hard courts.

• In Cincinnati, Paolini staged a comeback after losing the first set to Gauff.
• Sabalenka matched Serena’s record with 20 straight WTA 1000 wins.
• Pegula saved match points in Beijing before falling in the semifinals.
• Paolini committed just three unforced errors against Swiatek.

This structure highlights the tournament’s competitiveness, with players vying for year-end points.