Coco Gauff produced a majestic performance to capture her 11th WTA Tour title on Sunday.
The American proved too strong for compatriot and former doubles partner Jessica Pegula, defeating her fellow American in the Wuhan Open final.
Gauff trailed by a double-break in the second set, before rallying to win 6-4, 7-5.
As a result, Gauff claimed her third WTA Tour title of the year after winning the French Open and the Canadian Open Women’s Doubles title.
The 21-year-old has evidently demonstrated a particular proficiency on hard and clay courts, and she chose her favourite following victory in Wuhan.
Coco Gauff says hard courts are her favourite surface
Following Gauff’s titanic battle against Pegula, it was revealed Gauff has now won her first nine hard-court finals – the only woman in the Open Era to do so.
In fact, it is the first occasion a WTA player has won nine consecutive hard court finals since Serena Williams, who won nine straight between the 2013 US Open and 2015 Cincinnati Open.
“I definitely think it’s the surface I’m most true to,” Gauff said in a WTA interview after her victory.
“Obviously, growing up, I just liked the sureness of bounces and the sureness of knowing when I’m going to stop and when I’m going to go.
“It’s special and also being American, I feel like that’s our surface. A lot of people think it’s clay so I don’t know [about] the favourite surface debate.
“I feel like it’s still going to be hard court for me, but yeah, I didn’t know that was a stat, so I’ll try not to think about it if I’m in another hard court final to keep that record going.”
How much prize money did Gauff win in Wuhan?
Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula have both collected hefty sums following the Wuhan Open final.
Pegula walked away with $351,003, while Gauff has won $596,000.
In 2024, the winner took home $525,115, while the finalist received $309,280. The total prize pot was $3,221,715.
This year, the total prize pot was $3,654,963.
