Jessica Pegula reaches Wuhan doubles final with new partner, leaving Coco Gauff behind

Jessica Pegula has reached the doubles final at the Wuhan Open, this time with a new partner instead of Coco Gauff.  The successful partnership with Gauff won five titles together, and each reached World No. 1 in the doubles ranking last year. They have played fewer tournaments this season, with Gauff currently ranked No. 16 and Pegula No. 58 in the doubles rankings.

The 30-year-old American is in her first doubles final since ending her partnership with Gauff, this time alongside her new partner, Asia Muhammad. Unseeded, they will aim for the Wuhan title against Russia’s Irina Khromacheva and Kazakhstan’s Anna Danilina.

Pegula has not played alongside Gauff since the Olympic Games (or Wimbledon if considering only WTA-level tournaments). Since then, Pegula has entered some doubles draws but without her usual partner. At the Canadian Open, she competed alongside Mexican doubles specialist Giuliana Olmos, while at the China Open and Wuhan Open, she partnered with Muhammad.

On the other hand, Gauff has focused on singles since her last appearance with Pegula at Wimbledon. Throughout the season, Gauff has teamed up with Katerina Siniakova, Erin Routliffe, and Taylor Townsend.

Earlier in the season, during the Cincinnati Open, Pegula hinted that she probably wouldn't team up with Gauff again, at least not during 2024: "I know Coco doesn't really, isn't interested in playing, or at least I'm not, we're not thinking of playing, so I probably will take it easy on the doubles the rest of the year, so, yeah, we'll see,” the recent US Open runner-up said. "I think I'll just play maybe whenever I kind of want to. And maybe just focus on singles the rest of the year."

As Pegula and Muhammad await Sunday's final, the World No. 3 in singles praised her partner, giving her credit for their semifinal win against Leylah Fernandez and Aldila Sutjiadi: "I mean it was a really tough match. I think all of us were serving really well, so for me, I had to make a few more returns, but I feel like Asia carried us today, she played great."

Muhammad, 33, has secured her career-best ranking as the new World No. 16 in doubles starting Monday. If they win the title, she will break into the top 15 for the first time in her career. "I know we’re going to go out there and have fun. Hopefully, we can play well, I think we were really solid today. We’re going to give our best effort."