Gauff opens WTA Finals with gritty win over Pegula

Coco Gauff battled to a three-set victory over fellow American Jessica Pegula as she made a winning start to the WTA Finals.

Gauff, the 2024 champion, demonstrated resilience and superb athleticism to overcome 2023 runner-up Pegula 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 at Indian Wells in California.

Gauff - at 22, the youngest player to appear at five consecutive WTA Finals since Martina Hingis in 2000 - last competed at the China Open in early October.

"I'm really proud of myself for this one," she said.

"To play a tournament like this with no preparation is something I've never done in my career, but I'm just really happy to get through.