Gauff, who beat Sabalenka to win the 2023 US Open, took a 4-2 lead within the second set after an early break as she continued her kind from the primary set.
However Gauff’s service sport instantly collapsed, permitting the Belarusian world quantity two to report successive breaks as she received 4 video games in a row to take the second set.
Gauff’s service sport deteriorated additional within the decider and the American’s anger at failing to see out the match threatened to spill over.
Sabalenka, who has by no means misplaced in Wuhan, prolonged her successful run to seven video games in a row by taking the primary three video games of the third set,
Gauff confirmed her resilience by successful 4 of the following 5 to degree at 4-4.
However, after Sabalenka held her serve, Gauff double faulted on match level at hand the previous world primary the win.
“Coco is an unbelievable participant,” mentioned Sabalenka.
“We have had a whole lot of powerful battles up to now. She’s in nice form and I knew going into this match that it could be powerful and that I must work actually onerous to get the win.
“A few errors from her and and I felt I in all probability nonetheless have probabilities.”