WTA Finals: Coco Gauff beats Jessica Pegula and Linda Noskova beats Marta Kostyuk

Coco Gauff opened her WTA Finals campaign Sunday with a demanding 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2 victory over fellow American Jessica Pegula after 2 hours and 39 minutes on court at Indian Wells.

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula Clash in Indian Wells Opener

The opening-day round-robin match in Group 1 swung back and forth from the baseline. The frequent rivals were 5-5 in head-to-head meetings before Sunday, with Gauff having also beaten Pegula three months prior in Cincinnati. Gauff secured the first set by breaking serve in the final game on her fourth set point.

Pegula bounced back in the second, surging to a 5-1 lead before Gauff clawed back. Gauff saved three set points in the tenth game and then outlasted a marathon, 10-minute 11th game before Pegula ultimately leveled the match with a sharp shot down the line. Pegula missed volleys, overheads, and short balls during the opening set.

In the decisive third set, Gauff seized an early break and pulled ahead 3-0. She sealed the victory on her third match point when Pegula sent an error past the baseline. Gauff later told reporters that her mental reset after losing the second-set match point proved decisive, joking that her shoes were left badly torn up with pieces of rubber scattered on the court from all her running.

Mentally I think was the biggest difference. I didn’t get too high or get too low, and I think that even though I lost that match point in the second, I was able to reset.

Coco Gauff, via WTA Tennis

Pegula pointed to the heavy physical toll of salvaging the second set as a turning point that drained her energy for the decider. Pegula told reporters—appearing via Christian Court’s X—that Gauff’s relentless court coverage makes long exchanges uniquely exhausting, stating that even when she won a point by coming to the net and sticking volleys, Gauff was still right there.

To get me to work to win that set 7-6 instead of 6-1 or 6-2 or 6-3 even definitely didn’t bode well for me going to the third, because I just used a massive amount of energy.

Jessica Pegula, via WTA Tennis

Linda Noskova Defeats Marta Kostyuk in Straight Sets

Earlier on Sunday, Linda Noskova made a strong impression in her tournament debut by defeating Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-4 in 86 minutes. Noskova fired 20 winners—four more than Kostyuk—against 20 unforced errors, while she sent across her winners alongside an unreturnable forehand strike to the back corner. Noskova capitalized on all four of her break point opportunities.

Kostyuk stepped into the draw as a late substitute after world No. 1 and reigning champion Elena Rybakina withdrew due to a viral illness. Noskova applied consistent pressure from the baseline and the net to secure her third win in four meetings against the Ukrainian.

Noskova told reporters regarding her participation, It's a long year, we all are kind of drained and injured and all the things together, but it's one of the most important tournaments of the year.

Next Group 1 Round-Robin Matchups

The tournament continues as Gauff advances to face Noskova, while Pegula prepares to meet Kostyuk in the next round of Group 1 play. Gauff holds a 2-1 head-to-head record against Noskova, though Noskova won their most recent encounter earlier this year in Madrid. Meanwhile, Pegula leads her head-to-head against Kostyuk 4-3, though Kostyuk won both of their meetings this season in Brisbane and Madrid.

Earlier coverage: Coco Gauff Defeats Jessica Pegula in Three-Set WTA Finals Opener

More on this story: Coco Gauff Defeats Jessica Pegula in Three-Set WTA Finals Opener