Coco Gauff capped a thrilling week by beating compatriot Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 in the Cincinnati Open final on Sunday (23 August) night.
In the first all-USA final in 56 years, Gauff became the third woman in the tennis Open Era to win the Cincinnati title more than once, joining Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.
The fourth seed raced into a 5-0 lead within 30 minutes of taking to the court before ending the first set 6-2. After failing to serve out the match in the eighth game of the second set, she broke Pegula to love to finish the match in just 74 minutes.
“I think it was a long journey, but I’m happy,” Gauff told reporters after the match.
“It’s night and day, the player I was last year to now. I don’t think that this is an indicator that I’m going to do well in New York (at the US Open). Just knowing the quality ones that I had this week, hopefully I can use that experience.”
Gauff lost to eventual runner-up Jasmine Paolini in the 2025 quarter-finals, and the 22-year-old admitted that defeat left her questioning her level.
“Last year, I was just frustrated with my game and I felt like I was declining. It’s not something any player wants to feel,” said Gauff, who has now won her fourth career WTA 1000 title.
“I thought the level that she was playing at was extremely high,” said Pegula, the No. 3 seed. “It was really tough today. I didn’t really think I played bad. I thought I was setting up the points pretty well. Kudos to her. It’s just so hard when you play somebody that moves like that. She’s the best mover on tour, I think, by far.”
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