Coco Gauff lost in the semi-finals of the 2024 Berlin Open to her doubles partner Jessica Pegula after they returned to the tennis court for five points.
The two Americans have dealt with a really hectic schedule at the WTA 500 tournament in the German capital. First, the rain impacted the play, which meant that they had to play two matches on Saturday.
Gauff got a lucky break when Ons Jabeur retired from their match after one set, but in her second match, she didn’t play so well. Her doubles player was really solid, and that showed when she was the first player to break, leading 4-3 in the opening set.
Pegula was even serving for the first set, but she lost the one-break advantage as the 20-year-old made it 5-5 in the opening set. Yet, the 2023 US Open champion wasn’t able to hold the tied score for too long as Pegula pushed her once again, winning the first set 7-5.
In the second set, the younger of the two started better, breaking her opponent’s serve to lead 3-1, and confirming the break with a hold to love to lead 4-1.
She then increased the lead to 5-2, but similarly to her 30-year-old opponent in the first set, Gauff couldn’t serve out the set, losing her one-break advantage with Pegula making it 5-5.
Still, the one-time major winner had a set point when leading 6-5, but she couldn’t use it, so the second set had to be settled in a tie-break. Pegula got the first mini-break and led 3-1 when the rain started falling, suspending the match on Saturday evening.
The match had to be finished on Sunday, but players returned only for five points. First, Pegula got another mini-break, leading 4-1, before Gauff got one back to make it 2-4 from her point of view.
However, Pegula was able to win the match in the tie-break, winning it 7-2, and taking the match 7-5, 7-6(2) to reach the final of the 2024 Berlin Open, in which she will play against Anna Kalinskaya.
