“The conditions were obviously completely different last year playing outside,” is what Jessica Pegula said about her approach for the WTA Finals 2024, which are being played at center court at King Saud University Indoor Arena. The American tennis star had an amazing season as she won the Canadian Open and made it to the finals of the US Open as well. Her opening match rival, Coco Gauff faced the ups and downs but appears to be strong enough walking into this event. Will Pegula beat Gauff yet again and advance further in the event?

Coco Gauff vs Jessica Pegula: Preview

Coco Gauff arrives at the WTA Finals in Riyadh with tons of confidence and a strong form. The 20-year-old who is now in her third straight year at the year-end event has improved from a round-robin exit in 2022 to reaching the semifinals last year. Fast forward to present year.

After some summer struggles, including a disappointing US Open title defense, Gauff has revamped her game by parting ways with Brad Gilbert and bringing in Matt Daly as her new coach. Since then, she’s captured a WTA 1000 title in Beijing and made a strong semifinal run in Wuhan where she fell to Aryna Sabalenka in a close three-setter.

The 2024 US Open finalist and last year’s WTA Finals finalist Jessica Pegula enters this matchup with mixed results but a solid record against her younger compatriot. As a matter of fact, her recent form hasn’t been up to the mark—reaching the round of 16 in Beijing and suffering an early exit in Wuhan.

Gauff vs Pegula: Head-to-head

The all-American showdown between Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula is expected to be a high-stakes one. Looking at the head-to-head stats, Pegula has managed to win 4 out of the 5 matches played against each other. This keeps the 30-year-old ahead with a 4-1 score.

Their last showdown was recorded in the ongoing season at Berlin, where Pegula managed to take down Gauff with a final score of 7-5, 7-6. Besides, here’s a list of the other matches played between them:

• 2023 WTA Finals: Pegula won 6-2, 6-1
• 2023 Montreal: Pegula won 6-2, 5-7, 7-5
• 2023 Eastbourne: Gauff won 6-3, 6-3
• 2022 Dubai: Pegula won 6-4, 6-4

Prediction: Pegula to win in three sets

Coco Gauff heads into her opener against Jessica Pegula with a mixture of momentum and ambition. The 20-year-old has had standout moments this season, capturing titles in Beijing and Auckland and securing a solid No. 3 world ranking. However, she has occasionally fallen short against elite competition, a challenge she hopes to overcome in Riyadh. Gauff’s aggressive style and determination make her a player to watch, especially as she aims to make her mark in this high-stakes event.

Jessica Pegula, on the other hand, brings experience and consistency, the two qualities that have been the foundation of her successful season, which was highlighted by titles in Toronto and Berlin. Although she fell to Sabalenka in both the US Open and Cincinnati finals, Pegula’s mental strength and tactical approach keep her competitive against top-tier players. She has the confidence of her head-to-head lead over Gauff and feels prepared to face a challenging group. “I feel at least I’ve beaten all of them in my group,” Pegula said, of having beaten her group’s Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Barbora Krejčíková before.

Both Americans, knowing this platform, could set the tone for their WTA Finals campaigns. Pegula will rely on her consistency, while Gauff’s explosive style and drive to meet her potential may help her secure her second win over Pegula. With both players eager to make their mark, this opener promises to be a big opportunity for both rivals. Pegula’s experience may give her the edge because of which she can emerge victorious in three sets.