Coco Gauff won the Wuhan Open title by defeating Jessica Pegula 6-4, 7-5 in the final held on Sunday in Wuhan, China. The match, lasting 1 hour and 42 minutes, marked the third WTA 1000 trophy in the career of the 21-year-old American. Gauff, the third seed, did not drop a set throughout the tournament, while Pegula, the sixth seed, reached the final after eight matches with deciding sets.
The clash took place at the Optics Valley International Tennis Centre, with a capacity of 15,000 spectators. Gauff improved her head-to-head record against Pegula to 3-4 in a first-ever final between the former doubles partners. The victory reinforces Gauff’s dominance on Chinese hard courts, where she has secured 21 wins in the last three years.
- Gauff started the match with six consecutive points, building a 3-0 lead in the first set.
- Pegula tied at 4-4 with a break in the seventh game, but Gauff converted a break point two games later.
- In the second set, Pegula led 3-0 after two breaks, but Gauff recovered and won 10 straight points at a key moment.
- The match ended with Pegula’s volley error on match point.
Gauff’s dominant tournament run
Gauff began the tournament with a crushing 6-1, 6-0 win over Moyuka Uchijima in the second round. She then defeated Shuai Zhang 6-3, 6-2 in the round of 16, conceding only six games in her first two matches.
In the quarterfinals, she faced Laura Siegemund and advanced in straight sets, totaling 16 wins on Chinese soil in her career. The semifinal against Jasmine Paolini ended 6-4, 6-3, reversing three losses to the Italian in 2025.
This set-less campaign makes her the first player in the Open Era to win her first nine hard-court finals.
Pegula’s grueling path to the final
Pegula played three sets in all eight matches before the final. In the second round, she won 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, showing resilience from the start.
In the round of 16, she overcame an opponent in a tight match, dropping early breaks but turning the score around. The semifinal against world number one Aryna Sabalenka was a highlight, with a comeback from 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) after trailing 2-5 in the third set.
This resilience marked her seventh three-set win in the last eight matches, securing 13 WTA 1000 victories in her career.
First final clash between the Americans
The history between Gauff and Pegula began in doubles, where they were successful partners. In singles, Pegula led 4-2 before the final, with recent wins in tournaments like the US Open.
Gauff leveled the matchup with decisive breaks, capitalizing on Pegula’s serving errors. The 31-year-old American made mistakes at critical moments, allowing Gauff to seize opportunities.
This American final is the first at the Wuhan Open since its return in 2024, after a four-year hiatus.
Serve evolution boosts Gauff
Since August, Gauff has worked with biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan to refine her serve. Despite six double faults in the final, her numbers improved, with 378 total in the season.
The training resulted in greater return accuracy, with 87% of points won on second serves against Zhang. This progress contributed to nine winners against Paolini in the semifinal.
Gauff holds 13 top-10 wins in WTA 1000 events, a record for players under 22 since 2009.
Historic mark in hard-court finals
With this victory, Gauff achieves nine unbeaten hard-court finals in the Open Era. Her first WTA 1000 came in 2023, followed by another in 2024.
At 21 years and 207 days, she becomes the youngest finalist in Wuhan and China Open history. The trophy adds to her Roland Garros 2025 title, her second major.
Pegula, seeking her fourth WTA 1000, all on hard courts, faltered in Gauff’s comeback.
Prize money and next steps in the circuit
The Wuhan Open distributes $3.65 million in prize money, with $446,000 for the champion. Gauff climbs the WTA rankings, nearing the top leaders.
Both Americans secure spots in the WTA Finals in November in Riyadh. Pegula, the runner-up, earns crucial year-end points.
The tournament strengthens the Asian swing, with fast courts favoring aggressive styles like Gauff’s.