Coco Gauff rallied from the depths of a double break down in the second set to bury good friend Jessica Pegula 6-4, 7-5 to win the Wuhan Open on Sunday.

The American’s title win over her one-time doubles partner was not pretty, with seven breaks of serve in the second set. But Gauff finally prevailed as she regrouped to sweep the final four games to victory.

The 21-year-old Gauff earned her 11th career trophy, her first at the 1000 level this season after finals defeats in Madrid and Rome.

.Pegula and Gauff, won doubles titles back in the day at Miami and Doha two years ago and their history extends to the start of Gauff’s career.

“When I came on tour, you were one of the first people to be nice to me and welcome me with open arms,” she told the 31-year-old Pegula, . 

“That really goes a long way and still goes a long way. I appreciate you. And it’s great to finally play in a final against you.”

Pegula booked the final as she cut off the 20-match Wuhan win streak of world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who was closing in on a fourth straight title in the Chinese mega-city.

Main photo:- Coco Gauff with WTA Wuhan trophy – by WTATennis.com

Two-time titlewinner in Canada Jessica Pegula on Sunday threw shade on the extension of the summer hardcourt swing into a pair of masters events lasting for three weeks in total

The American who won Canadian trophies in 2024 and last summer, is withholding judgement on the WTA move to stretch the formerly one-week Masters events to roughly 11 days each for this event and the last major before the US Open, Cincinnati.

“It can seem really long, especially leading up to a slam, but I’m interested,” the American said.

“It’s not quite two weeks for each tournament, right? It’s 21 days. I think it’s a little bit of a hybrid between what we’ve seen with, like, Madrid and Rome or Indian Wells/Miami.”

She called the challenge “obviously longer than just having one week to finish everything.”

Pegula said she is reserving judgement of the controversial move which has riled some major players.

“I’m, honestly, interested to see how it turns out and how it feels for the players and for the fans; it’s kind of like meeting in the middle a little bit.”

But doubts remain for last autumn’s US Open runner-up.

“I’m not a fan of when they’re two weeks long. It can get really tough. I feel like Slams are two weeks, and so now turning everything almost into a Slam is really mentally draining. 

“I’m hoping that these two events feel like a good kind of middle ground, I guess I could say. It’s the first time we’ve done it, and I think we’re all going to have to get used to it, but I guess we’ll see how it goes.”

After a spell in the wilderness and a 10-month title drought, Novak Djokovic has regained his winning will at the French Open.

The 38-year-old who claimed his 100th career Tour title last month in Geneva, is carrying his success forward with a place in the Roland Garros semi-finals and a Friday date against Jannik Sinner. 

Djokovic is emerging smoothly from the cycle of doubt which left him scratching for form and motivation during the run-up to Paris; he skipped both the Madrid and Rome Masters but found some hope with a statement title in Geneva.

Now, the 24-time grand Slam winner is in the thick of the title scramble.

“If you look at the results I’ve had this year.. multiple first match losses at the big Masters tournaments.

“That wasn’t a great feeling, it’s something I haven’t experienced for many of the 20 years I’ve been playing. 

“I have to find a to bounce back at the Grand Slams.

Djokovic demonstrated his survival skills in the quarter-finals, defeating Alexander Zverev over three hours and five match points to set up a showdown with Sinner, winner of their last three meetings.

“Now, it’s all about Grand Slams for me, trying to raise the level and play my best tennis at these four tournaments,” three-time Roland Garros champion Djokovic said.

“I think the win against (Carlos) Alcaraz in quarters of the Australian Open, to win quarters against Zverev proves that I can still play on the highest level,and I just thrive on these occasions.”

He added: “This is where I lock in and really give my best. I just hope that I will be able to physically keep up with Sinner.

“It’s a big challenge and it’s only going to get tougher. But it’s how it’s
supposed to be at the highest Grand Slam level.”

The veteran is preparing for a huge battle against Italy’s ATP No. 1 and winner of the last two Grand Slams in New York and Melbourne.

“He’s going to come out and play on a very high level, as he did basically every tournament that he played in the last year and a half. 

“I don’t expect anything less from him,” Djokovic said.