Coco Gauff Battles Through Serving Struggles to Reach Wuhan Open Final, Will Face Pegula
WUHAN, China – Coco Gauff secured her place in the Wuhan Open final on Saturday, overcoming a persistent struggle with her serve to defeat fellow top-10 player Jasmine Paolini 6-4, 6-3. The victory sets up an all-American showdown with Jessica Pegula, who ended aryna Sabalenka’s extraordinary 20-match winning streak at the tournament.
Gauff’s path to the final was marked by resilience, fighting back from three breaks down in the second set, a stretch that included five consecutive double faults. Despite the serving difficulties,the 21-year-old demonstrated her championship mettle,winning the final four games of the match. This final represents a significant opportunity for Gauff to add another title to her growing resume and further solidify her position as a leading force in women’s tennis.
Pegula advanced after a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2) victory over top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka. While Pegula holds a 4-2 head-to-head advantage over Gauff, this will be their first meeting in a final.
Gauff acknowledged the need to persevere, stating, “I did what I needed to do to get through.” Despite leading the women’s circuit with 378 double faults this season – over 120 more than any other player – gauff’s ability to win crucial points has been a hallmark of her success.The WTA has noted her 13 career wins over top-10 players at WTA 1000 events are the most by any player before turning 22 since 2009.
Earlier in the tournament, fifth-ranked Paolini had upset Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals and entered the semi-final with a 3-0 record against Gauff this season. Pegula, ranked sixth, rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the final set against Sabalenka, who had previously won the Wuhan Open in 2018, 2019, and again in 2024 following the event’s return to the circuit.
