From tense rallies to candid speeches, this is the full account of Coco Gauff’s Wuhan Open triumph — how she outlasted Jessica Pegula, what it means for her season, and the mutual respect that lifted an all-American final above the ordinary.
A second title, a steadier mind, and a reminder that Coco Gauff’s season is far from spent
The humid air in Wuhan had barely settled when Coco Gauff sealed her second title of 2025 with a crisp backhand winner and a calm smile. A 6-4, 7-5 victory over Jessica Pegula — friend, rival, and fellow American — brought her the Wuhan Open crown and reaffirmed that her surge through the Asian swing was no fluke.
It was the 21-year-old’s eleventh career title and second of the season, following her Roland Garros triumph. But beyond the silverware, this was a reminder of her resilience — a month that began with serving doubts and patchy form ended with a trophy in her hands, not a towel over her head.
A final that never loosened its grip
The match was never straightforward. Both players began nervously, a mixture of clean winners and scrappy misses littering the early games. Gauff, sharper off the mark, sprinted to a 3-0 lead after a break of serve. Pegula, so often the slow starter, steadied the ship and clawed her way back as Gauff’s double faults — five in all during one early stretch — threatened to undo her control.
At 3-2, Gauff found her rhythm again, closing points with bold forehands and that trademark athleticism that makes her look half-marathon runner, half-sprinter. Pegula, ever tenacious, forced rallies long enough to sap anyone’s patience, but Gauff was the one striking cleaner at the big moments. The first set ended 6-4, and with it, Pegula’s ninth straight match in which she’d dropped the opener.
Pegula vs Gauff – Set One Stats
| Statistic | Pegula | Gauff |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.91 | 1.10 |
| Serve Rating | 223 | 265 |
| Aces | 0 | 4 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 2 |
| 1st Serve % | 53% (18/34) | 74% (26/35) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 61% (11/18) | 65% (17/26) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 50% (8/16) | 44% (4/9) |
| Break Points Saved | 50% (2/4) | 0% (0/1) |
| Service Games | 60% (3/5) | 80% (4/5) |
| Ace % | 0% | 11.4% |
| Double Fault % | 2.9% | 5.7% |
| Return Rating | 211 | 179 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 35% (9/26) | 39% (7/18) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 56% (5/9) | 50% (8/16) |
| Break Points Won | 100% (1/1) | 50% (2/4) |
| Return Games | 20% (1/5) | 40% (2/5) |
| Pressure Points | 60% (3/5) | 40% (2/5) |
| Service Points | 56% (19/34) | 60% (21/35) |
| Return Points | 40% (14/35) | 44% (15/34) |
| Total Points | 48% (33/69) | 52% (36/69) |
| Max Points In A Row | 8 | 6 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Total Games Won | 40% (4/10) | 60% (6/10) |
| Max Games In A Row | 3 | 3 |
| Injury Timeouts | 0 | 0 |
| Set 1 Duration | 0h 48m | |
The second set was a mirror image in chaos. Gauff fell behind 0-3 after a pair of costly double faults, her serve briefly deserting her. Pegula sniffed a way back into the contest, but Gauff broke straight away, riding her luck on a net cord and then finding consistency on the backhand wing. By 5-4, Pegula had her chance to serve for the set; it vanished in a haze of unforced errors. Gauff pounced, broke, and sealed the match two games later — one hour and 44 minutes of tennis that was equal parts grit and grace.
Pegula vs Gauff – Set Two Stats
| Statistic | Pegula | Gauff |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.81 | 1.24 |
| Serve Rating | 163 | 209 |
| Aces | 0 | 0 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 6 |
| 1st Serve % | 53% (18/34) | 74% (28/38) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 61% (11/18) | 61% (17/28) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 17% (3/18) | 30% (3/10) |
| Break Points Saved | 0% (0/4) | 63% (5/8) |
| Service Games | 33% (2/6) | 50% (3/6) |
| Ace % | 0% | 0% |
| Double Fault % | 2.9% | 15.8% |
| Return Rating | 197 | 289 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 39% (11/28) | 39% (7/18) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 70% (7/10) | 83% (15/18) |
| Break Points Won | 38% (3/8) | 100% (4/4) |
| Return Games | 50% (3/6) | 67% (4/6) |
| Pressure Points | 25% (3/12) | 75% (9/12) |
| Service Points | 41% (14/34) | 53% (20/38) |
| Return Points | 47% (18/38) | 59% (20/34) |
| Total Points | 44% (32/72) | 56% (40/72) |
| Max Points In A Row | 5 | 10 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Total Games Won | 42% (5/12) | 58% (7/12) |
| Max Games In A Row | 3 | 4 |
| Injury Timeouts | 0 | 0 |
| Set Duration | 0h 56m | |
Statistically, it was close: Gauff landed 74% of her first serves to Pegula’s 53, struck four aces to none, and saved five of nine break points. Pegula’s return remained dangerous, but the younger American’s first-strike tennis ultimately prevailed.
Pegula vs Gauff – Full Match Stats
| Statistic | Pegula | Gauff |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.85 | 1.17 |
| Serve Rating | 189 | 234 |
| Aces | 0 | 4 |
| Double Faults | 2 | 8 |
| 1st Serve % | 53% (36/68) | 74% (54/73) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 61% (22/36) | 63% (34/54) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 32% (11/34) | 37% (7/19) |
| Break Points Saved | 25% (2/8) | 56% (5/9) |
| Service Games | 45% (5/11) | 64% (7/11) |
| Ace % | 0% | 5.5% |
| Double Fault % | 2.9% | 11% |
| Return Rating | 180 | 237 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 37% (20/54) | 39% (14/36) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 63% (12/19) | 68% (23/34) |
| Break Points Won | 44% (4/9) | 75% (6/8) |
| Return Games | 36% (4/11) | 55% (6/11) |
| Pressure Points | 35% (6/17) | 65% (11/17) |
| Service Points | 49% (33/68) | 56% (41/73) |
| Return Points | 44% (32/73) | 51% (35/68) |
| Total Points | 46% (65/141) | 54% (76/141) |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 8 | 10 |
| Total Games Won | 41% (9/22) | 59% (13/22) |
| Max Games In A Row | 3 | 4 |
| Match Duration | 1h 44m | |
From shaky summer to polished autumn
If the North American summer had tested Gauff’s patience — the uneven grass season, the early hard-court exits — her response in Asia has been something approaching professional redemption. She had reached the China Open semi-final before falling to Amanda Anisimova, yet she arrived in Wuhan rejuvenated. Five wins, no sets dropped, and opponents — Uchijima, Zhang, Siegemund, Paolini, and finally Pegula — all dispatched with a brisk certainty.
“I just wanted to keep building,” she said afterward. “Sometimes the losses make you question yourself, but this tour teaches you to reset quickly. I’m glad I did that here.”
Her movement has looked freer, her forehand more controlled, and her composure markedly steadier. The only blemish left — her erratic second serve — didn’t derail her this week, even if it still caused a few tight smiles courtside from her coaching team.
“You were one of the first to be nice to me” — a speech with heart
What followed in the trophy ceremony was pure Gauff — poised, funny, and disarmingly sincere. Standing beside Pegula, she began with an affectionate jab: “Jess, you’ve been the three-set queen this week, so I was determined not to let you get to a decider today — I knew the odds would be in your favour.”
The crowd laughed; Gauff smiled, then softened her tone. “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 goes a long way. It’s great to finally play a final against you, and I hope for many more.”
Her thanks extended to Pegula’s team — “class acts,” she called them — before she pivoted to the organisers, volunteers, and fans. “This has been an incredible tournament,” she said. “The improvements since last year are amazing. I want to thank everyone who made this possible — the staff, volunteers, and ball kids. You guys are incredible.”
Then came the line that travelled fastest online: “I literally had to bring an extra suitcase because of all the gifts. You’ve made me feel so welcome — maybe that’s why I always play well here.”
She closed by crediting her faith: “My faith is a very strong part of who I am. I thank God for keeping me safe and for another opportunity to be in a final.”
It was classic Gauff — part charm, part gratitude, and entirely genuine.
What Wuhan means in her trajectory
If Paris in June was a career milestone, Wuhan in October might be proof of permanence. Gauff now has three WTA 1000 titles, matching Pegula’s tally, and she’s secured her place at the WTA Finals with weeks to spare. For a player still refining her serve and scheduling, that’s a mark of consistency few at her age achieve.
“This one means a lot,” she told Arab News later. “Qualifying early for the Finals feels great. It shows I’m not falling behind. I can focus on improving without chasing points or overplaying.”
Her comments revealed more maturity than marketing. “Last year, I was so tired by this stage,” she said. “Singles, doubles, travel — it was all a lot. Now I’m managing things better.”
Gauff also reflected on the wider reach of tennis — and its power to connect unlikely places. With the WTA Finals returning to Riyadh, she touched on sport’s ability to bridge divides:
“I think sport brings people together. Last year in Riyadh, I didn’t expect such an international crowd. It was a good energy. I think having a three-year deal there makes sense — test the waters, see how it grows.”
It was a thoughtful nod to the complexities surrounding the event’s location — measured, diplomatic, and distinctly her own voice.
Pegula’s role in a rivalry of mutual respect
For Pegula, Wuhan offered more affirmation than frustration. The 31-year-old had survived three-set battles all week to reach her first final since February. “It’s always an honour to play you, Coco — both as a friend and as a fellow American,” she said on court. “It was our first final together, and it was a lot of fun.”
Her speech was warm, understated, and full of quiet gratitude. “It’s just been us for a long time here in Asia,” she said to her coach, Mark, smiling. “A lot of long matches, a lot of flights — but we can go home proud.”
She saved a special mention for “the other Mark” — Mark Knowles — and her fitness trainer John. “Shout-out to him for keeping me feeling this good after so many hours on court,” she joked, before turning serious. “I don’t think I’ve played this many hours in such a short time and still felt this fresh.”
Pegula’s words to the Wuhan crowd were equally gracious. “Everyone is so friendly — the volunteers, the fans, the people in the hallways. I didn’t know I had this many fans here!” she said, drawing laughter and applause.
Her tone — part professionalism, part affection — summed her up neatly: grounded, self-aware, and never far from a smile.
A rivalry that raises both
There is a certain symmetry to this friendship-rivalry. Pegula, steady and seasoned, has often been the older sister figure. Gauff, the prodigy turned peer, brings energy and unpredictability. In Wuhan, their paths met as equals — two Americans, two contrasting rhythms, one absorbing contest.
What sets them apart, and yet binds them, is temperament. Pegula plays with understatement; Gauff, with expressive momentum. Together they’ve helped American women’s tennis look deeper than a single star. Their doubles partnership has already produced titles; their singles meetings increasingly carry weight.
As the WTA Finals loom, it’s hard not to sense that both will shape that event — Gauff with youth and form, Pegula with steadiness and know-how. If Wuhan was the rehearsal, Riyadh could well be the encore.
Beyond the lines — composure and continuity
What made Gauff’s week in Wuhan notable wasn’t just the trophy. It was the continuity of purpose — the sense of a player who’s learning to manage both the peaks and troughs. The erratic service games that once derailed her are now blips. The emotional volatility that showed on her face last year is tempered by perspective.
She plays with more economy now. Between points, she’s unhurried; in rallies, decisive. Her footwork remains a blur, but her decision-making is calmer. “I just try to think one point at a time,” she said post-match. “When you start thinking about the trophy, that’s when it goes wrong.”
Pegula’s steadiness amid the chaos
Pegula’s fortnight should not be overlooked either. After a taxing schedule and a spate of three-setters, she ends the Asian swing inside the top five, ready for another Finals push. Her campaign across China showed the mix of resilience and routine that defines her game: a heavy serve, precise returns, and mental steel honed over years of quiet progression.
“She’s the glue of U.S. women’s tennis,” one coach said courtside — not a headline-grabber, but indispensable to the pack.
In Wuhan, Pegula again reminded everyone why she’s admired across the locker room: unshowy, authentic, and unwilling to fold even when her legs must have screamed otherwise.
American tennis in firm health
If this final proved anything, it’s that American women’s tennis remains in rude health. Gauff, Pegula, Anisimova, and a recovering Madison Keys give the U.S. a mix of youth and experience unmatched by any other nation.
In Wuhan, two of them stood side by side — one lifting the trophy, the other smiling beside her — and both knowing that this kind of depth is what sustains eras, not moments.
Related WTA Articles You Might Enjoy
2025 Wuhan Open WTA1000 Results (Updated) Including Qualifiers (Opens in a new browser tab)