World number one Aryna Sabalenka’s 20-match winning streak at the Wuhan Open came to an end as Jessica Pegula rallied from 5-2 down in the deciding set to win and set up a final against Coco Gauff. Sabalenka, who had won in Wuhan in each of the past three tournaments, looked all set to reach the final again when she broke twice to take command of the third set. However, 31-year-old Pegula dug deep to win four games in a row. Sabalenka survived two match points to force a tie-break but had nothing left as American Pegula won 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7-2).
Pegula was quoted saying, “For what I did in the tie-break, I’m just really proud of myself. I’ve played so much tennis the last few weeks, so many three-set matches, but I feel like I’m very tough right now and I’m just using that [feeling] as best as I can.” In an earlier match, French Open champion Gauff secured victory over Jasmine Paolini in a stuttering performance to reach the final. Gauff may have won in straight sets but struggled on serve, being broken five times and serving seven double faults. She mentioned, “I’m really happy with how I played today. It was tough, especially playing on the serve, but I did what I needed to do to get through.”
The 21-year-old beat the Italian seventh seed 6-4 6-3 in a match featuring 11 breaks of serve in a row to reach her first final since her win at Roland Garros in June. Gauff expressed her focus on her side of the court and her determination to control the things she can control. She acknowledged the talent of players like Sabalenka and Pegula, against whom she had lost before. Despite the challenges faced, Gauff remained positive about her performance and her chances in the upcoming final against Pegula.
