Coco Gauff’s title defense at the 2025 WTA Finals got off to a rocky start. In the all-American duel in the Stefanie Graf group, she succumbed to compatriot Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-2 in a grueling opening round-robin match that lasted two hours and 12 minutes. No wonder her fans were not thrilled with ghosts of the past returning for the world No. 3.

“Jess Pegula defeats defending champ Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-2 at the WTA Finals,” journalist José Morgado reported on X . “Gauff hit 17 (!) double faults… Pegula now leads then h2h 5-3.”

The match began in a bizarre fashion. With the first five games all going to the returner, both players had early service struggles on Riyadh’s fast, high-bounce courts. However, Pegula managed to steady herself, while Gauff struggled to control h

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