Jessica Pegula produced a disciplined and powerful performance to defeat defending champion Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-2 at the 2025 WTA Finals.
The American fifth seed displayed superb composure under pressure and opened her round-robin campaign with an impressive and confident victory.
Pegula’s tactical precision and clean shot-making helped her overcome Gauff’s aggressive play in a high-quality contest lasting over two hours.
With this victory, Pegula took a 1-0 lead in the Stefanie Graf Group and booked a clash with World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka next.
Her win also avenged the loss she suffered to Gauff in the Wuhan final earlier this year, marking a turning point in her season.
In the opening set, Pegula capitalized on Gauff’s erratic serving, breaking twice and taking control with patient and consistent baseline exchanges.
Gauff hit nineteen unforced errors and struggled with her rhythm, while Pegula’s steady play secured her the first set comfortably at 6-3.
The second set saw Gauff regroup strongly, improving her first-serve percentage and taking the match into a tense tiebreak situation.
Gauff displayed her trademark fight and took the tiebreak 7-4, showing flashes of brilliance and athletic defensive skills under pressure.
Despite losing the second set, Pegula stayed focused, regrouped mentally, and prepared to dominate the decider with her trademark discipline.
In the third set, Pegula raised her level again, striking eight unforced errors compared to Gauff’s eighteen, proving her superior consistency.
She broke Gauff early and maintained her lead, dictating rallies with precision and staying solid behind her own powerful serve.
Pegula’s controlled aggression and calm court presence helped her seal the final set 6-2 and complete an emotional, hard-fought victory.
After the match, Pegula praised Gauff, calling her a great competitor and friend, and acknowledged the challenge of facing familiar opponents.
She expressed satisfaction with her performance and credited her discipline and focus for helping her close out the match efficiently.
Pegula’s triumph marks an excellent start to her WTA Finals campaign and boosts her confidence before meeting Sabalenka in her next match.
For Gauff, the loss was a wake-up call after a strong season highlighted by her second Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.
She must now regroup and deliver consistent serving if she hopes to keep her semifinal hopes alive against Jasmine Paolini next.
Pegula, meanwhile, continues to prove her reliability and resilience as one of the tour’s most composed and tactically smart competitors.
With her disciplined approach and growing confidence, Jessica Pegula remains a serious contender for the WTA Finals crown this season.
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