Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula to face off in the Wuhan Open final
Wuhan, China – Coco Gauff defeated Jasmine Paolini with a score of 6-4, 6-3 in a match marked by service errors from both players, including seven double faults by Gauff. This victory secures her a place in the Wuhan Open final, where she will face her compatriot Jessica Pegula. Pegula, for her part, achieved a grueling 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2) victory against Aryna Sabalenka, ending Sabalenka’s winning streak in the tournament. The match between Gauff and Paolini was characterized by the struggle in break points, with Gauff prevailing 7-5 in this aspect. Despite the difficulties with her serve, Gauff managed to remain calm and secure her place in the final. Gauff, ranked number 3, rallied in the second set, recovering from three breaks down, including a series of five consecutive double faults. Finally, she won the last four games to advance.Gauff, 21 years old, who changed her service coach in August, leads the women’s circuit this season with 378 double faults, surpassing the next player by more than 120. However, Gauff also excels in another statistic: with 13 victories over top 10 players in WTA 1000 events before turning 22, she is the player with the most victories in this range since 2009. Jasmine Paolini, ranked number 5, had eliminated Iga Swiatek, the Wimbledon champion, in the quarterfinals and had won her three previous matches against Gauff, all played this season. Pegula, ranked sixth, recovered from a 5-2 score in the final set, winning four consecutive games. Sabalenka saved two match points in the next game to force the tiebreak. Sabalenka won the Wuhan Open in 2018 and 2019, and again in 2024, following the event’s return to the circuit.I did what I needed to get through.
Coco Gauff
