Coco Gauff celebrates with the Wuhan Open trophy

Coco Gauff became the first player to win her first nine hard-court finals as she defeated Jessica Pegula in straight sets to claim the Wuhan Open title.

The 21-year-old world number three triumphed 6-4, 7-5 against her American compatriot, earning her 11th career singles title.

“I’d like to thank my team—it was a great Asian swing,” Gauff said during her victory speech.

“I’m going to call JC [her coach Jean-Christophe Faurel] out here; he originally didn’t want me to come because I had a tough US Open, but I had to prove him wrong. I’m a very stubborn person, so maybe he said that on purpose to motivate me.”

The French Open champion, making her second appearance at the Wuhan Open, trailed 3-0 in the second set but fought back to level and eventually won four straight games to seal the match.

At 5-4, Pegula had the chance to force a deciding set on serve but was broken emphatically by a determined Gauff.

“You’re the three-set queen,” Gauff told Pegula on court. “I was determined not to let you get there today because I felt the odds would be in your favour in the third set.”

Pegula had played final-set deciders in all eight of her previous matches at the Wuhan Open, while Gauff maintained her flawless record of straight-set victories.

“It’s an honour to play you as a friend and fellow American in the final,” Pegula said graciously. “It was our first final together, and it was a lot of fun to share that moment.”