The No. 6 seed found her timing to build a 3-0 double break advantage. Even after the 21-year-old erased the deficit, Pegula regained the break with a terrific re-drop and consolidated for 5-3.
With all of her previous Wuhan matches going the distance, one could have easily expected this to follow the pattern when Pegula served for the set. Gauff had other ideas.
The 21-year-old went on a 10-point run, continuing to frustrate Pegula with a mix of high spins, slices and selective aggression. At 5-6, 30-30, Pegula knifed a superb backhand volley on her approach only to miss the open court on her forehand volley follow-up. She came in again facing match point and was passed by her countrywoman with a forehand to end the encounter.
Gauff improved to 11-3 in tour-level singles finals. The Delray Beach, Fla. resident did not drop a set en route to picking up her third career WTA 1000 title.
