“Should Go Home” – Coco Gauff Faces Harsh Fan Backlash After Shock WTA Finals Loss to Jessica Pegula
Coco Gauff’s title defense at the 2025 WTA Finals began on a disastrous note, as the American teenager suffered a shocking defeat to her compatriot Jessica Pegula in the opening round-robin clash. The all-American battle in the Stefanie Graf Group turned into a nightmare for the defending champion, who fell 3-6, 7-6(4), 2-6 after committing a staggering 17 double faults in a tense two-hour and twelve-minute encounter.
Pegula, who came into the match seeking redemption after previous WTA Finals disappointments, capitalized on Gauff’s inconsistency to secure a statement victory in her fourth appearance at the season-ending tournament. The win also extended Pegula’s head-to-head lead against Gauff to 5–3, as reported by journalist José Morgado on X (formerly Twitter). He wrote, “Jess Pegula defeats defending champ Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-2 at the WTA Finals. Gauff hit 17 (!) double faults… Pegula now leads their H2H 5-3.”
From the very first game, the contest took an unexpected turn. Both players struggled to find rhythm on serve, with the first five games astonishingly going to the returner. Pegula eventually steadied her game, managing to hold for a 4-2 advantage, while Gauff’s service woes continued to unravel her confidence. The defending champion ended the first set having committed five double faults and winning only 34% of points on her own serve — a number far below her usual standards.
Despite showing flashes of her trademark athleticism and grit, Gauff couldn’t sustain momentum. She narrowly took the second set in a tiebreak, but her recurring double faults allowed Pegula to regain full control in the decider. Post-match statistics revealed just how critical the serve was in determining the outcome — Gauff won only 48% of her total service points compared to Pegula’s 56%. Even more damning was the serving disparity: Gauff hit 17 double faults to Pegula’s single one, a gap that clearly underlined the difference in composure between the two.
For Gauff, this latest setback adds to an ongoing concern that has plagued her throughout the season — her unreliable serve. Earlier this year, she made an unwanted piece of tennis history by becoming the first player in the Open Era to record over 400 double faults in consecutive seasons. Despite her remarkable achievements, including a U.S. Open title and a consistent top-three world ranking, the 21-year-old’s serve remains her Achilles’ heel.
The tennis community and fans didn’t hold back their disappointment after the match. Social media platforms, particularly X, were flooded with criticism, with many questioning how a player ranked No. 3 in the world could perform so erratically. One frustrated fan wrote, “Coco Gauff is incompetent. She can’t serve — how she is number 3 overall is really a condemnation on the state of women’s tennis.” Another sarcastically added, “Coco Gauff should go home lmao. 17 double faults is insane.”
While Gauff’s on-court struggles drew heavy backlash, some analysts pointed out that her performance also reflected mental fatigue and the pressure of expectations. Having been the face of American tennis since her teenage breakthrough, Gauff continues to carry immense scrutiny every time she steps onto the court. Her powerful baseline game and athleticism have carried her far, but until she finds consistency in her serve, critics believe she’ll remain vulnerable to upsets like this.
Jessica Pegula, on the other hand, was full of composure and tactical clarity throughout the match. She absorbed Gauff’s power, exploited her second serve, and punished every opportunity to break. The win puts Pegula in a commanding position to qualify for the semifinals, while Gauff must regroup quickly if she hopes to keep her title defense alive.
As the WTA Finals progress, all eyes will be on whether Coco Gauff can recover from this rocky start and silence her critics — or if this defeat marks the beginning of a difficult end to her 2025 season.
