Coco Gauff kicked off her 2024 WTA Finals journey in Riyadh with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 win over fellow American and Olympic doubles partner, Jessica Pegula. In a match that saw Gauff’s aggressive play outshine Pegula’s resilience, the 2023 US Open champion seized control from the start, finishing in just over an hour.
The battle between these top-ranked Americans began with Gauff saving a break point in the opening game. She gained an early edge, breaking Pegula to lead 3-1, only for Pegula to strike back. However, Gauff quickly regrouped, breaking again to secure the first set in 34 minutes.
As the second set began, Gauff broke Pegula immediately, only for the world No.6 to rally back, leveling at 2-2. Yet Gauff, known for her cool under pressure, capitalized on Pegula’s unforced errors to break once more, sailing through the remainder of the set to clinch victory.
Gauff’s performance highlighted her growth over the season, as she tallied her 20th career Top 10 win and showed newfound control on indoor hard courts. Despite Pegula’s stellar North American hard-court season, where she claimed the Toronto title and made the US Open final, Gauff’s recent success in Asia solidified her status as a serious contender in this tournament.
This win places Gauff at the top of the Orange Group, alongside reigning WTA Finals champion Iga Swiatek, who edged past Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova. Gauff will next face Swiatek, with both players eyeing control of the group standings.
Reflecting on her victory, Gauff said, “I think maybe I served better than previous matches. It felt different playing on indoor hard court, which might have given me an edge.” For Pegula, the match was a lesson in keeping errors in check against a confident, in-form opponent.
As the WTA Finals heat up, Gauff’s decisive play has set the stage for an exciting showdown with Swiatek in the quest to top the Orange Group.
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