By Richard Pagliaro Sunday, October 12, 2025
Image source: Wuhan CVG Open
The fruit salad queen has another final.
Chinese fan nicknames Coco Gough”Fruit Salad Queen” because of her habit of munching on fruit salad during her shift.
Goff has shown a strong interest in fighting, solidifying her status as the “Queen of the Finishers.”
In the U.S. finals, Gauff defeated her former doubles partner in the final four games Jessica Pegula 6-4, 7-5 today’s thrilling Wuhan Open final.
This is Gauff’s third career WTA 1000 title, which she won without dropping a set in five matches.
In fact, the 25 games Gauff allowed to play during his championship run were the fewest games lost by a champion in the history of the Wuhan Open.
“I want to congratulate Jesse on an incredible race,” said Goff, the first American to win the Wuhan title since the legendary Venus Williams in 2015. “When I was on tour, you were one of the first people to be kind to me and welcome me with open arms…
“So thank you, it’s an honor to share the court with you.”
Third-ranked Gauff captured her 11th career title, improving her record in hard court finals to a perfect 9-0. Overall, Gauff has a career finals record of 11-3, resurrected in Asia after a disappointing loss to Naomi Osaka at last month’s U.S. Open.
Sixth-seeded Pegula, who had won four of her six previous games against Gauff, was ready to force a third game today before an excited Gauff displayed a powerful closing kick. Pegula, who pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals, had won four consecutive three-set matches before running out of energy today.
“I want to congratulate Coco and her team,” Pegula said. “Awesome. You played great tennis this week. I know we’ll meet in a few weeks [at the WTA Finals]. It’s an honor to play you as a friend and a fellow American, and yes, congratulations. “
In the first final between the two friends, Pegula matched Goff’s jaw-dropping speed, court skills and versatility with his straight, deep drives. Goff, who frequently moved Pegula forward with short cuts from both wings, hit 11 more winners (24-13) and overcame eight double faults to win in one hour and 42 minutes.
Goff burst through the defense with purpose, scoring eight of the first 10 points to take a 2-0 lead.
Midway through the first set, Pegula found her range and rhythm. Pegula stepped up and hit a forehand to score eight of nine consecutive points to preserve the tie with love after eight games.
Gauff was tenacious and fought hard, scoring 10 points in a row to chase the score to 5-4. Gauff smashed a two-handed backhand to break serve and take a set lead.
Early in the second set, Gauff’s second serve faltered. Pegula took advantage of six double faults to take a 3-0 lead.
Gauff made the most of his versatility, mixing in backhand and forehand slices as well as some lobs.
The defending French Open champion made two backhand errors in the second set to tie the match after six games.
Pegula showed his good touch, hit a lob in succession, and responded to the break with a perfect backhand lob to lead 4-3. It was the fifth break of serve in the first seven games of the set.
When Pegula tied the match at 30, she extended her lead to 5-3 and led by four points in her fifth straight deciding set.
Goff, 21, refused to give in.
The two-time Grand Slam champion scored 10 straight points to regain control.
One of the longest scores of the final came when Gauff led 40-15 with a two-handed cross. When Pegula made a deep forehand shovel, Goff led 6-5.
The WTA Finals champion’s speed played a key role in the final match.
Gauff sprinted from side to side and knocked down a nice volley from Pegula, forcing her former doubles partner to hit another volley. Pegula’s forehand volley missed, and Gauff won the championship point 30-40.
Gauff tied the sixth seed with a short forehand return that she passed and stretched her arms to the sky to seal her ninth career hard-court title in one hour and 42 minutes.
