The WTA season is almost over, and Jessica Pegula has a lot to look back on. The American No.3 just wrapped up her Wuhan Open campaign, finishing runner-up to Coco Gauff. The result didn’t go her way, but Pegula still holds firm inside the top five of the WTA rankings. She’s been a mainstay in the top 10 since first breaking through in 2022. This season alone, she’s competed in 22 tournaments and won three in Bad Homburg, Charleston, and Austin, more than anyone else on tour. In total, she’s played 69 matches and won 50 of them, trailing only Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka. That consistency has helped her notch a major milestone.

At 31, Pegula continues to defy expectations, earning another spot at the WTA Finals. She’s now the oldest player to qualify for four or more consecutive editions of the year-end event since Nathalie Tauziat between 1997 and 2001, and the oldest American to do it since Martina Navratilova’s run from 1991 to 1994. As the countdown begins, Pegula stands as a symbol of consistency, endurance, and experience on one of tennis’ biggest stages.

Looking back, Pegula’s WTA Finals journey has been one of resilience and redemption. Her 2022 debut is one she’d rather forget: three straight losses and not a single win. But Cancun 2023 flipped the script. She came out blazing, taking down Maria Sakkari in her opener, then rolling through Rybakina, Sabalenka, and Gauff. All straight sets. All business. By the time she reached the final, she looked unstoppable. Swiatek, though, was untouchable that day, conceding just one game in a dominant display.

But Jessica Pegula’s 2025 season wasn’t just about chasing one big trophy. She didn’t win a Grand Slam or a WTA 1000, though she came painfully close in Miami before falling to Aryna Sabalenka in the final. Her three titles still mattered, but her real story unfolded in New York. After a slow start at the earlier majors, she found her spark at the US Open, blazing into the semifinals without dropping a set. Under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, she battled Sabalenka in a thrilling three-set duel. Even in defeat, that 6-4 finish reminded everyone that Pegula remains one of the elite and a true major contender.

Here’s a fun stat: By reaching the Wuhan final, she has now made the quarterfinals or better at all 10 WTA 1000 events.

Her last few tournaments proved she’s still bringing the fire. It had been a tough stretch since her Bad Homburg win, with early exits, including a first-round loss at Wimbledon. But the US Open changed everything. Pegula carried that fight into the Asian swing, winning eight of 10 matches to make back-to-back deep runs in China, first the semifinals, then the Wuhan final. The performance left her impressed and proud of her season-long strength.

Jessica Pegula expresses her thoughts on making it to her sixth final of the season

Pegula may not have stolen the Wuhan title from Coco Gauff, but she walked away breaking a record of her own! The American stunned defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals, rallying 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) to end the World No. 1’s perfect 20-0 streak at the tournament. That win punched Pegula’s ticket to her sixth final of the season. “That was crazy, I can’t believe I came back and won that. I’m just really proud of myself,” she said, smiling through the exhaustion. “I’ve played so much tennis the last few weeks, so many three-set matches but I feel like I’m very tough right now and I’m just using that as best I can.”

Her victory was her 50th of the 2025 season, a mark that carried a special edge. At 31, she became the oldest player to hit 50 wins since Serena Williams did it back in 2015. That’s a pretty legendary company. And it came after a rollercoaster few months for the American.

Even though she eventually lost to Gauff in the final, 6-4, 7-5, she handled it with grace and heart. On court, she shared some heartfelt words for her 21-year-old opponent. “I just want to say congrats to Coco and her team. Amazing job this week, guys. You played some great tennis this week. Congrats and all the best. I know we will see each other soon at the WTA Finals. It was an honor to play you as a friend and a fellow American. That was a lot of fun to be able to play and all the best,” Pegula said during the trophy ceremony.

Now, all eyes shift to Riyadh. The WTA Finals kick off from November 1 to 8, and Jessica Pegula’s riding serious momentum into the season-ender. Can she bring the heat, finally score that first Finals title, and maybe take down defending champion Coco Gauff along the way?