By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 12, 2025Photo credit score: Wuhan Open CVG
The Fruit Salad Queen feasted on one other ultimate.
Chinese language followers nicknamed Coco Gauff “Fruit Salad Queen” for her behavior of munching on fruit salad throughout changeovers.
Exhibiting fierce urge for food for the battle, Gauff solidified her standing as Queen of Closure.
In an all-American ultimate, Gauff charged via the ultimate 4 video games keeping off her former doubles companion Jessica Pegula 6-4, 7-5 in in the present day’s thrilling Wuhan Open ultimate.
It’s Gauff’s third profession WTA 1000 championship and she or he gained 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 had 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 court docket with you.”
The third-ranked Gauff captured her eleventh profession championship elevating her file in hard-court finals to an ideal 9-0. Total, Gauff, who was resurgent in Asia after a disappointing US Open defeat to Naomi Osaka final month, owns an 11-3 profession finals file.
The sixth-seeded Pegula had gained 4 of six prior assembly vs. Gauff and put herself in place to pressure a 3rd in the present day earlier than an adrenalized Gauff confirmed sturdy closing kick. Pegula, who knocked off world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in an impressed semifinal comeback, had gained 4 three-setters in a row earlier than working out of fuel down the stretch in the present day.
“I need to say congrats to Coco and her group,” Pegula mentioned. “Wonderful job. You performed superb 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 good friend and fellow American, yeah, congrats.”
This primary ultimate between the 2 buddies featured Pegula’s flat, deep strikes towards Gauff’s eye-popping velocity, court docket craft and selection. Steadily 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 objective, Gauff gained eight of the primary 10 factors to go up a break at 2-0.
Halfway via the opening set, Pegula discovered her vary and rhythm. Stepping up and driving her forehand, Pegula streaked via eight of 9 factors backing up a break with a love maintain to degree after eight video games.
A gritty Gauff hung robust via 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 photographs as effectively.
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 superb 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.
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 ultimate 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 velocity proved pivotal within the ultimate recreation.
Streaking side-to-side Gauff ran down a superb Pegula volley and compelled her former doubles companion to play another volley. Pegula pushed her forehand volley vast giving Gauff a championship level at 30-40.
Chipping again a brief forehand return to attract the sixth seed in, Gauff rifled a forehand move and thrust her arms towards the sky closing her ninth profession hard-court championship in a single hour, 42 minutes.
