Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula to play the Wuhan Open final
In an emotional day in Wuhan, China, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula will face each other in the final of the tournament. Gauff defeated Jasmine Paolini, while Pegula beat the world number one, Aryna Sabalenka. Gauff, despite committing seven double faults, managed to defeat Paolini with a score of 6-4, 6-3. The match was marked by the struggle in the serves of both players, who strived to maintain their advantage. On the other hand, Pegula starred in an epic match against Sabalenka, winning 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2). This triumph marked the end of Sabalenka’s winning streak in Wuhan, which extended for 20 matches. Regarding head-to-head matches between Gauff and Pegula, Pegula leads with a score of 4-2. However, this will be the first time they face each other in a final. Gauff demonstrated her tenacity by recovering from three breaks in the second set, including a series of five consecutive double faults. Ultimately, she managed to win the last four games to secure her place in the final.Despite her difficulties with double faults, Gauff has demonstrated her ability to compete at the highest level. With 378 double faults this season, she is the player with the most on the women’s circuit. However, she has also excelled in other aspects, accumulating 13 victories against top 10 players in WTA 1000 events before turning 22, the most since 2009. Jasmine Paolini, who eliminated Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals, had won her three previous matches against Gauff, all played this season. The sixth-ranked Pegula rallied from 5-2 down in the final set, winning four games in a row. Sabalenka, for her part, saved two match points in the following game to force a 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 was necessary to move forward.
Coco Gauff
