Coco Gauff dazzles in defeat of Jessica Pegula at the WTA Finals

Coco Gauff needed a change this summer. She had worked with coach Brad Gilbert for a year and the pair had some fantastic early success. That included Gauff winning the 2023 US Open. But this summer was a different matter as Gauff to reach even the quarterfinals at any event. She fell as far as No. 6 on the WTA tour.

Gauff split with Gilbert after falling in the round of 16 at the 2024 US Open. The coach had no desire to part ways with his commentating duties on television and he also appeared to have no clue about how to fix Gauff's issues with an inconsistent serve. The only way for Gauff to get better was to say goodbye to Gilbert.

Since the US Open, Gauff has played in two tournaments. She won the China Open in early October and reached the semifinals at the Wuhan Open. This has helped Gauff get back to being ranked third, and she began her run at the WTA Finals in a way that makes her seem like a real threat to win the event.

Coco Gauff defeats Jessica Pegula to begin her play at the WTA Finals

She defeated friend and fellow American Jessica Pegula in straight sets and fairly easily 6-3 6-2. The key was that Pegula did not play poorly, and Gauff made a number of unforced errors early, but her ability to get to shots most players cannot and then turn those shots around into winners with pace was too much for Pegula. Plus, Pegula knew how to play against Gauff and she still could not stay with Gauff.

Gauff is in the same draw as Iga Swiatek, so her path to getting to the semifinals won't be easy. Swiatek won her opening round match as well, but it took her three sets. Swiatek will also have to play Pegula and Gauff in the round-robin stage so there is a real chance Swiatek won't reach the semis either. Gauff's dominant win over Pegula likely gives her a lot of confidence moving forward at the WTA Finals.

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