Earlier in the tournament schedule, Coco Gauff overcame physical discomfort to defeat Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 7-5, BBC Sport reported.
The American player required treatment on her lower back midway through the fixture and subsequently fell 5-1 behind in the second set. However, the world number four mounted a fierce comeback by winning six consecutive games to close out the match.
“Physically, I wasn’t at my best, which I’m not really used to,” Gauff told Sky Sports.
“It was like a mental challenge, learning how to play through that,” Gauff added.
The demanding tennis calendar has impacted multiple competitors, with Ukraine’s Kostyuk also receiving medical attention for a wrist issue that has persisted since August.
This marks the second occasion at the tournament where Gauff has erased a 5-1 deficit in a set, having accomplished the same feat against Pegula on Sunday.
Despite the successful turnaround, the 22-year-old acknowledged she did not anticipate the repeat scenario and was already mentally preparing for a deciding third set.
“I asked my physio at 5-2 down, what can I do on the bathroom break [between sets] to try and loosen up,” Gauff said.
“And then there was no bathroom break!” Gauff said.
Gauff battled with her delivery throughout the contest, registering nine double faults against a single ace, explaining afterward that she struggled to execute her service motion pain-free.
Kostyuk entered the season-ending finals as a late replacement following Elena Rybakina’s withdrawal, and similarly battled to produce pace and spin due to her ongoing wrist concerns.
The world number four recovered from an initial break deficit to claim the opening set before immediately encountering difficulties in the second.
She requested the trainer after falling behind 3-0 and soon faced a double break deficit, though Kostyuk successfully fended off three break points during the sequence.
Supported by the spectators and despite restricted movement, Gauff swung freely to ultimately outlast Kostyuk.
