Pegula made an appearance at the YONEX Wuhan Open signing event: hoping to carry the momentum from the China season into Wuhan.

On October 9th Beijing time, Pegula kept advancing at this year’s Wuhan Open on the center court, winning a tough three-set match 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 against 9th seed Aleksandra Krunić, marking her debut in the Wuhan Open women’s singles quarterfinals. Following the match, she immediately went to the YONEX Wuhan stand for autograph signing.

After enduring two consecutive days of intense battles in Wuhan’s hot weather and winning both, Pegula demonstrated the elite level expected of a top ten player. Reflecting on these two thrilling matches, she said: “The matches were crazy, many of my contests in China feel like a roller coaster. I anticipated it would be tough before the match as my opponent played very well. I managed to handle all the difficult moments and won the crucial points when it mattered most. I’m really happy to come out with the victory.”

Pegula also praised Wuhan as a city with a strong tennis atmosphere. “I’m really glad to be here competing in Wuhan. So far, I’ve been playing well, and I’m happy to spend more time here. The fans in Wuhan are fantastic, and the overall experience of the tournament is excellent.”

This season, Pegula has performed impressively, claiming titles on three different surfaces and reaching the US Open semifinals. During the China swing, she led the U.S. team to the Billie Jean King Cup final in Shenzhen and then advanced to the singles semifinals at the China Open.

Arriving in Wuhan this week as the tournament’s 6th seed, Pegula hopes to maintain her strong form. “I played well in Beijing, so I want to carry that momentum into Wuhan. My previous results here weren’t outstanding, but this time I feel my level is good enough to compete for wins. Although I faced some tough matches, I always found ways to come through.”

Her success in China has helped Pegula gain many new fans, and she openly expresses her fondness for Chinese supporters on her social media. “At first, I didn’t understand why I had so many fans after returning to China, but later they explained it’s because of my good relationships with Chinese players. Chinese fans are so fun; they gave me the nickname ‘Da Fu,’ which sounds powerful. They enjoy it, and I think it’s pretty cool.”

Currently ranked 5th in the live race to the WTA Finals, Pegula holds a significant points lead over the player ranked 8th, putting her in a strong position to qualify for the Riyadh WTA year-end championships for the fourth consecutive year. She is eager to earn enough ranking points at the Wuhan Open to secure her spot directly. “My goal coming here is to qualify for the year-end finals. Of course, I have several goals: I want to win this tournament, win more matches, and reach the Finals. I’m already registered for Tokyo, but I want to see how this event goes first.”

“I really love the control this racket gives me; I think it strikes a great balance between power and precision. Everyone knows I’m a solid baseline player who can change the ball’s direction well, and I believe that’s thanks to this racket.” At the signing event, Pegula shared her experience using the YONEX EZONE 98 racket on tour, expressing great satisfaction with its balanced baseline performance. On October 10th Beijing time, Pegula will face qualifier Siniaková for a spot in the semifinals, aiming to continue improving her best Wuhan Open result.

(Text and editing: Dato; Photos: Huang Dishen)