Coco Gauff triumphed at the WTA 1000 Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open on Sunday, showcasing her remarkable talent in an all-American showdown against Jessica Pegula. The match concluded with Gauff securing a straight-sets victory, 6-4, 7-5, after a gripping hour and 43 minutes on court.
Post-match, Gauff expressed her gratitude towards Pegula, recalling her early support in her career. “When I came on tour, you were one of the first people to be nice to me, and welcome me with open arms. That really went a long way, so I appreciate you,” she said during the trophy presentation. “It’s great to finally play in the final against you, and I hope for many more. So, congratulations, and thank you.”
The win in Wuhan boosts Gauff’s confidence as she prepares for the WTA Finals. “This definitely gives me a lot more confidence going into the WTA finals, after the way the mid-part of the season went for me, especially in New York,” Gauff remarked. This victory marks her 11th career WTA singles title and her first since clinching the French Open in June. Notably, Gauff did not drop a single set throughout the tournament, underscoring her dominance on hard courts.
The 21-year-old also acknowledged her affinity for hard court surfaces. “I definitely think it’s the surface I’m most true to. Growing up, I liked the sureness of bounces, and the sureness of knowing when I’m going to stop, and when I’m going to go.”
Gauff’s road to the title began with a commanding performance against Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, where she allowed just one game in a swift 51 minutes. Her subsequent matches featured similar efficiency, culminating in a semi-final encounter with Jasmine Paolini. Despite Paolini’s success against Gauff earlier in the season, the top seed overcame her challenge to reach the final.
For Pegula, the match represented a testing culmination of eight consecutive three-set matches, of which she had won seven. Gauff was fully aware of Pegula’s prowess in extended contests, noting, “You’re the three-set queen, so I was determined not to let you get there today.”
The final itself began with an enthralling 15-shot rally, concluding with Gauff’s forehand winner. She quickly pressure Pegula, gaining an early lead. While Pegula battled back to equalize at 4-4 in the first set, Gauff maintained her composure to clinch the set. The second set saw Pegula initially surge to a 3-0 advantage, but Gauff once again displayed her resilience, fighting back to tie the score. Ultimately, Gauff secured her fourth break of the set, sealing the match with a decisive forehand winner, tallying up a total of 24 winners compared to Pegula’s 13.
With this victory, Gauff established herself as the first champion of the Wuhan Open to achieve the title without losing a set since its inception in 2014. She also set a record by conceding only 25 games throughout the tournament, the fewest in its history.
Gauff currently retains her No. 3 position in the PIF WTA Rankings and increases her lead over Amanda Anisimova by nearly 2,000 points while also reclaiming her third place in the WTA Finals Race, overtaking Anisimova again.
Looking forward, both Gauff and Pegula have one more significant tournament ahead—the WTA Finals in Riyadh taking place from November 1-8. A victory in Riyadh would not only allow Gauff to defend her title but could also position her to conclude the season with an impressive trophy haul, including a Grand Slam and WTA 1000 titles.
In the doubles event, Katerina Siniakova and Storm Hunter triumphed as they defeated Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic, 6-3, 6-2, securing their title in a match that only lasted 69 minutes. This win marks a successful return for Hunter, who has come back strongly after nearly a year out due to injury.
Siniakova, who now boasts 32 WTA doubles titles, further solidified her standing at the top of the rankings with this latest victory, while Hunter celebrated her first title since returning from injury, marking another chapter in her comeback journey.
As the tennis season winds down, all eyes will be on the top players as they vie for championship titles and year-end accolades at the upcoming WTA Finals.
