Gauff defeats Pegula in WTA Finals opener
The No. 4 seed won 6-4, 6-7, 6-2 after a month-long break, securing her first victory of the group stage in Indian Wells.
By Adrian Kovalenko ·
Coco Gauff ended a one-month absence with a 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2 victory over Jessica Pegula on Sunday in Indian Wells, California. The win marked the start of the 2026 WTA Finals for the 22-year-old, who faced her compatriot in the first match of Group 1.
The contest lasted two hours and 39 minutes at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Gauff improved her career record against Pegula to 6-5. The No. 4 seed controlled the early stages of the match, holding serve from 0-40 down at 4-4 in the first set. She then secured the set's only break in the following game to establish an early lead.
Pegula shifted the momentum in the second set, taking a 5-1 lead. Gauff responded by winning five consecutive games to reach match point at 5-6. Pegula salvaged the set with a forehand return winner in the subsequent tiebreaker, leveling the score.
Gauff regained the advantage in the final set, winning the first three games to build a 5-2 lead. A missed overhead by Pegula gave Gauff two additional match points. Gauff converted her third opportunity with a celebratory roar to close out the match.
"I was having a lot of fun today," Gauff said after the match. She noted that she had a match point in the second set but did not get discouraged. Gauff stated that the key to her performance was aggression, though she also had to run extensively during the match.
Gauff will next face Linda Noskova, the No. 8 seed and reigning Wimbledon champion. Noskova defeated Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-4 in the day's opening match. Kostyuk, a late substitute for Elena Rybakina, will now play Pegula. Rybakina, the 2025 WTA Finals champion and current Australian Open and U.S. Open title holder, withdrew from the tournament due to a viral illness.
The WTA Finals are currently held in Indian Wells, home of the BNP Paribas Open. The venue change occurred after instability in the Middle East prompted a move away from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the event was held starting in 2024. The tournament is scheduled to relocate to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2027.
