London [UK], November 10: Coco Gauff overcame Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 with a dominant third-set display to open her WTA Finals campaign.
The world number four took the opener and recovered from 5-1 down in the second to come within a point of winning in straight sets.
But it was Pegula's turn to dig in from 5-6, saving a match point and then playing a terrific tie-break to extend the contest at Indian Wells.
Gauff took charge of the match in the third set, breaking to lead 3-0 before earning her sixth win against Pegula after two hours and 39 minutes.
Pegula would probably have been grateful to get the tennis under way after her viral and awkward 'hot mic' moment when disparaging comments she made about fellow player Mirra Andreeva to her coach during a training session were picked up on a livestream.
That prompted a grovelling apology from the WTA, which admitted it had not told players the microphones were on, and damage control behind the scenes from Pegula.
The world number five had compared Andreeva's mentality unfavourably with Gauff's in her indiscreet comments, and the two-time grand slam champion set about showing her competitive grit, clawing her way back with five games in a row, including saving three set points.
Sometime doubles partners Gauff and Pegula had shared their 10 previous meetings, while this was the fourth year in a row they were meeting at the WTA Finals.
Earlier, Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova marked her debut with a 6-2, 6-4 victory against alternate Marta Kostyuk.
Kostyuk received a late call-up after world number one Elena Rybakina pulled out through illness, but it was Czech Noskova who came out on top.
Source: Qatar Tribune
