Coco Gauff stunned Jessica Pegula in straight sets to win the Wuhan Open final on Sunday.
Gauff performed admirably to capture the title, fighting back from a double break down in the second set to claim a 6-4, 7-5 victory.
This victory marked Gauff’s first title since the French Open in June, and she will hope to carry this good form into the last few WTA tournaments of the season.
As a result, Gauff has gained 610 WTA points and moved within 1000 points of world number two Iga Swiatek.
Gauff has made even more history after her latest triumph: her 11th WTA Tour title.
Coco Gauff has won her first nine hard-court finals
As per OptaAce, Coco Gauff is the first player in women’s Open Era history to win all their first nine hard-court finals.
In fact, Gauff is the first to win nine consecutive WTA hard-court finals since Serena Williams, who won 12 straight between the 2013 US Open and 2015 Cincinnati Open.
Gauff’s streak began in 2022, when she won hard-court titles at the Qatar Open and Canadian Open. A year later, she won titles at the Miami Open, Cincinnati Open and US Open.
The 21-year-old added to her total in 2024, winning the China Open and WTA Finals.
Triumph in Wuhan marked Gauff’s second hard-court title of the season after her doubles triumph at the Canadian Open while competing alongside McCartney Kessler.
Gauff’s only non-hard-court titles have come on clay: the 2024 French Open doubles title and the 2025 French Open singles title.
Gauff silences her critics
Coco Gauff had struggled for form since winning the French Open, battling issues with her serve and forehand.
However, the American appears to have steadied the ship, registering numerous excellent performances during her time in Wuhan.
Gauff’s serving issues remain – she served eight double faults – but she has reason to be hopeful for the future.
The American’s forehand was firing against Pegula, and she remains one of the toughest players to beat on the WTA Tour.
Gauff’s fight back in the second set represented a microcosm of the American’s attitude on court: someone who never gives up and fights for every single point.
