Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula had plenty to say after their gripping all-American opener at the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh. Pegula came out on top in a tense three-set battle, earning a 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-2 victory to begin her campaign on a positive note.
While Pegula praised her ability to stay composed and “fight” through momentum shifts, Gauff admitted frustration over her inconsistent serve that ultimately proved costly in the two-hour and 12-minute contest.
Strong Start for Jessica Pegula As Coco Gauff Battles Through a Testing WTA Finals Opener
The matchup between the two top-ranked Americans carried extra intrigue given their familiarity as both longtime doubles partners and frequent opponents in singles. Gauff entered the tournament as the defending champion and No. 3 seed, eager to replicate her success from 2024 at the season-ending event.
Pegula, meanwhile, arrived in Riyadh looking to make a deep run after a consistent year that kept her among the WTA’s elite. Their first round-robin meeting, played on November 2 at the King Saud University Indoor Arena, immediately delivered on the anticipation.
Pegula started strong, dictating play early to claim the opening set 6-3. Gauff responded admirably in the second, tightening her game and pushing Pegula into longer rallies. However, Gauff’s serve became the defining story of the night. She hit 17 double faults across the match, including three in a row at 6-5 in the second set, nearly gifting Pegula the match before clawing back to win the tiebreak 7-6(4).
In the final set, Pegula took full advantage of her opponent’s inconsistency, breaking serve multiple times to close out the match 6-2. Pegula converted nine break points from 18 chances, hit five aces, and committed just one double fault compared to Gauff’s staggering total.
Victory for Jessica Pegula over Coco Gauff! ⚡ pic.twitter.com/TOvAu1DKj8
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) November 2, 2025
What Were Gauff and Pegula’s Honest Takeaways From Their First-Round Match?
After the match, both players shared honest reflections on their performances. Gauff acknowledged her struggles, saying, “Obviously, little frustrated with the serve today. Overall, it was a tough match for me. Jess played well and I thought she was playing a bit smarter than she was when we played in Wuhan.”
Pegula, on the other hand, highlighted her focus on adaptability, telling reporters, “It was a very up-and-down match. Luckily, I was able to get through. I just had to pick up on a few things to turn the match around. I had to compete and fight, and I thought I did that well.”
Looking ahead, Gauff is set to face eighth seed Jasmine Paolini in her second round-robin match. The two have met six times previously on the WTA Tour, with their head-to-head record currently tied. On the other hand, Pegula will square off against top seed Aryna Sabalenka for the 12th time in their careers, with the Belarusian leading their rivalry 8-3.