Coco Gauff beats Jessica Pegula at WTA Finals despite lack of preparation

Coco Gauff won her opening match at the 2026 WTA Finals, beating fellow American Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-7, 6-2. The two-time major champion's victory was her second over Pegula at the season-ending event, after she also won their 2024 group-stage meeting.

Pegula missed chances

Pegula had chances to take control. She had break-point opportunities while serving at 4-4 in the first set and led 5-2 in the second, but could not convert them into a win. Gauff stayed in the contest and took the match in three sets.

The statistics show a close contest. Gauff won 67 per cent of her first-serve points against Pegula's 60 per cent, and she hit four aces. Gauff also converted seven of 16 break points, while Pegula won four of 11. Pegula hit more winners, 30 to 24, but committed 55 unforced errors compared with Gauff's 41. Gauff won 119 total points to Pegula's 106.

Little preparation

Gauff entered the tournament with no recent match play. Her last competitive event was the China Open at the start of October, where she lost to Elise Mertens in the third round. Speaking after the match, Gauff said she had taken a break and that Sunday's contest was her first match in about a month.

She described the lack of preparation as something she had never done before in her career, but said she was pleased to get through the win. She also said the match, which lasted around two and a half hours, was demanding throughout.

Respect for her opponent

Gauff praised Pegula's game, saying she was an incredible player and that the two always competed closely. She noted Pegula's clean ball striking and her ability to keep the ball low when attacking. Gauff said the key on Sunday had been to stay aggressive herself.

Gauff also said she had done a lot of running during the match and that her shoes were badly worn, meaning she would need to change them before her next match.

What comes next

With the win, Gauff now leads her head-to-head record with Pegula 6-5. In the group stage she is due to face Linda Noskova and Marta Kostyuk, who replaced Elena Rybakina in the draw after Rybakina was unwell.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Aryna Sabalenka is scheduled to play Karolina Muchova on Tuesday, while Mirra Andreeva will face Elina Svitolina.