By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 12, 2025Photo credit: Wuhan Open CVG
The Fruit Salad Queen feasted on one other remaining.
Chinese language followers nicknamed Coco Gauff “Fruit Salad Queen” for her behavior of munching on fruit salad throughout changeovers.
Displaying fierce urge for food for the battle, Gauff solidified her standing as Queen of Closure.
In an all-American remaining, Gauff charged by means of the ultimate 4 video games keeping off her former doubles associate Jessica Pegula 6-4, 7-5 in at this time’s thrilling Wuhan Open remaining.
It’s Gauff’s third profession WTA 1000 championship and she or he received it with out dropping a set in 5 match victories.
In reality, the 25 video games Gauff permitted en path to the title are the fewest a champion has surrendered in Wuhan Open historical past.
“I’d prefer to congratulate Jess on an unbelievable match,” mentioned Gauff, who’s the primary American to win Wuhan since legendary Venus Williams in 2015. “Once I got here on tour you have been one of many first individuals to be good to me and welcome me with open arms…
“So thanks, it’s an honor to share the courtroom with you.”
The third-ranked Gauff captured her eleventh profession championship elevating her document in hard-court finals to an ideal 9-0. General, Gauff, who was resurgent in Asia after a disappointing US Open defeat to Naomi Osaka final month, owns an 11-3 profession finals document.
The sixth-seeded Pegula had received 4 of six prior assembly vs. Gauff and put herself in place to drive a 3rd at this time earlier than an adrenalized Gauff confirmed robust closing kick. Pegula, who knocked off world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in an impressed semifinal comeback, had received 4 three-setters in a row earlier than working out of fuel down the stretch at this time.
“I need to say congrats to Coco and her staff,” Pegula mentioned. “Superb job. You performed wonderful tennis this week. I do know we’ll see one another in a few weeks [at the WTA Finals]. It’s an honor to play you as a buddy and fellow American, yeah, congrats.”
This primary remaining between the 2 associates featured Pegula’s flat, deep strikes in opposition to Gauff’s eye-popping pace, courtroom craft and selection. Regularly dabbing the quick slice off each wings to deliver Pegula ahead, Gauff struck 11 extra winners—24 to 13—and withstood eight double faults in a one hour, 42-minute triumph.
Bursting out of the blocks with goal, Gauff received eight of the primary 10 factors to go up a break at 2-0.
Halfway by means of the opening set, Pegula discovered her vary and rhythm. Stepping up and driving her forehand, Pegula streaked by means of eight of 9 factors backing up a break with a love maintain to degree after eight video games.
A gritty Gauff hung robust by means of a 10-point recreation holding for 5-4. Gauff thumped her two-handed backhand breaking for a one-set lead.
The Gauff second serve was shaky within the early phases of the second set. Pegula exploited six double faults charging out to a 3-0 lead.
Deploying her selection, Gauff was mixing in backhand and forehand slices and a few drop pictures as nicely.
The reigning Roland Garros champion provoked a pair of backhand errors as she broke again to even the second set after six video games.
Pegula confirmed advantageous really feel of her personal, working down a drop shot and flicking an ideal backhand dropper response to interrupt again for a 4-3 lead. That was the fifth break within the first seven video games of the set.
When Pegula held at 30, she stretched her result in 5-3 and was 4 factors from a fifth consecutive decisive set.
The 21-year-old Gauff refused to crack.
The 2-time Grand Slam champion reeled off 10 factors in a row to regain management.
One of many longest factors of this remaining ended with Gauff leaning into her two-hander crosscourt to go up 40-15. When Pegula shoveled a forehand deep, Gauff edged forward 6-5.
The WTA Finals champion’s pace proved pivotal within the remaining recreation.
Streaking side-to-side Gauff ran down a advantageous Pegula volley and compelled her former doubles associate to play yet another volley. Pegula pushed her forehand volley extensive giving Gauff a championship level at 30-40.
Chipping again a brief forehand return to attract the sixth seed in, Gauff rifled a forehand go and thrust her arms towards the sky closing her ninth profession hard-court championship in a single hour, 42 minutes.
