Coco Gauff began her WTA Finals campaign with a win over fellow American Jessica Pegula at Indian Wells on November 9, 2026. The match marked the opening round of the season-ending championship, where the top eight singles players compete in a round-robin format.
Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, entered the tournament as one of the favorites after a strong season on the WTA Tour. Pegula, a consistent top-10 player, provided a stern test in the all-American matchup.
The WTA Finals returned to Indian Wells for the 2026 edition, utilizing the hard courts that host the BNP Paribas Open each spring. The tournament runs through mid-November, with the semifinals and final determining the year-end champion.
