“Big Difference” – Gauff Wins Cincinnati A Year After 'Parking Lot' Tears
Coco Gauff Beats Jessica Pegula To Win Second Cincinnati Open title ahead of US Open. Gauff dominates Pegula 6-2, 6-4 to claim Cincinnati crown.
Gauff holds off Pegula to capture Cincinnati title...
With the US Open on the horizon, Coco Gauff sent a strong message by defeating Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 to claim her first title of 2026 at the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati.
The world No.4 won her first WTA title since Wuhan last October, bouncing back after final defeats in Miami and Rome earlier this season.
Her win over world No.3 Pegula secured Coco Gauff a second Cincinnati title. She first won the event in 2023, the same year she went on to win her maiden Grand Slam at the US Open.
It was the first all-American WTA final in Cincinnati since Rosie Casals defeated Nancy Richey in 1970, and it proved to be a one-sided contest.
Gauff said the result shouldn’t be used to judge what will happen at the US Open, but admitted it was a big confidence boost.
Gauff wrapped up an impressive week in 75 minutes and will arrive in New York full of confidence for the US Open, which begins next Sunday.
“I don't think that this is an indicator that I'm going to do well in New York or anything like that to be honest,” Gauff said, but added: “(I'm going in) knowing that I can figure out these matches (even if) I'm not playing my best, but also knowing that I can play that great tennis that I felt I was playing this week.
“Hopefully I can use the experience here in New York.”
“It's a big difference, what a year can make,” said Gauff, who was so frustrated by her serve 12 months ago that she brought in a new coach just days before the US Open.
THE MOMENT! 🤩@CocoGauff | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/JQYV78JZvY
— wta (@WTA) August 24, 2026
“Last year I was just frustrated with my game, and I felt like I was declining,” she said. “It's not something any player wants to feel. You always want to feel like you're getting better, at the worst, like just plateauing.”
Gauff Builds 'Amazing Momentum' With Dominant Cincinnati Win
This time Gauff was flawless on serve, and Pegula, fresh off a tough victory over defending champion Iga Swiatek had no answer for Gauff’s pace and aggression.
Gauff jumped out to a 4-0 lead with two breaks, then stretched it to 5-0 before Pegula finally held and broke back.
The respite was short-lived as Gauff broke again to close out the first set in 34 minutes.
The second set followed the same pattern, with Gauff breaking early for a 3-0 lead while Jessica Pegula spent the rest of the set chasing.
Gauff converted her first match point to wrap up the title and 12 days of action at the expansive Midwest venue.
The win leveled Gauff’s head-to-head with Pegula at 5-5. It was also Gauff’s second victory over her fellow American this year, after beating her in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
"Like two times this week I cried in my room from all the support I was getting" 🫶
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 24, 2026
All smiles now from Coco Gauff as she lifts the 2026 Cincinnati trophy 🏆#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/QYa2qe2pKj
Pegula said she was still happy with how she played heading into the final Grand Slam of the year.
“I don't think I played bad but you played a very high level, it was not fun to play against,” she told Gauff during the trophy ceremony.
“You have amazing momentum heading into the US Open.”
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