In Wuhan, China, tennis sensation Coco Gauff, despite struggling with seven double faults, secured a hard-fought victory over Jasmine Paolini. This win propels her into an anticipated all-American final against her compatriot Jessica Pegula at the prestigious Wuhan Open. Pegula, in a significant upset, brought an impressive 20-match winning streak by top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka at this tournament to a dramatic end.
Gauff`s semifinal clash with Paolini on Saturday concluded with scores of 6-4, 6-3. Both players, ranked among the top ten globally, faced challenges with their serves throughout the match. However, Gauff ultimately demonstrated superior execution in critical moments, winning the battle of converted breaks 7-5.
The other semifinal saw Pegula triumph over Sabalenka in a thrilling three-set encounter, posting scores of 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2). This dramatic victory not only sealed Pegula`s spot in the final but also halted Sabalenka`s formidable winning run in Wuhan. The upcoming final marks the first time Gauff and Pegula will compete for a title, although Pegula currently holds a 4-2 lead in their head-to-head matchups.
The 21-year-old Gauff, currently ranked third in the world, displayed remarkable resilience during her match. She fought back from three breaks in the second set, a challenging phase that included a sequence of five consecutive double faults. Undeterred, Gauff rallied to win the final four games, securing her place in the championship match. Reflecting on her performance, Gauff stated, “I did what I needed to do to get through.”
Gauff, who adjusted her serving coach in August, has tallied 378 double faults this season, leading the women`s circuit by more than 120 faults compared to the next player. Despite this, her talent shines through in other areas: her 13 career victories against top-10 opponents at WTA 1000 events stand as the highest record for any player under the age of 22 since 2009.
Jasmine Paolini, ranked fifth, had a strong run to the semifinals, notably eliminating Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals. Furthermore, Paolini had won all three of her previous encounters against Gauff earlier this season.
Sixth-ranked Pegula demonstrated exceptional tenacity in her semifinal. Trailing 2-5 in the deciding set, she mounted a spectacular comeback, winning four consecutive games. Sabalenka then saved two match points, pushing the thrilling contest to a decisive tiebreaker.
Aryna Sabalenka has a storied history at the Wuhan Open, having previously claimed the title three times in 2018, 2019, and again in 2024, following the tournament`s return to the circuit.
