Gauff's Dominant Run to the Title
Coco Gauff defeated Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 on Sunday to win her second Cincinnati Open title, a dominant performance that handed the World No. 4 her first trophy of the season. The match, which finished in 75 minutes, was the first all-American WTA final in Cincinnati since Rosie Casals beat Nancy Richey in 1970.
Gauff, who came into the tournament as the fourth seed, raced to a 5-0 lead in the first set within half an hour, breaking Pegula twice before closing out the set 6-2. The second set followed a similar pattern, with Gauff breaking early to move ahead 3-0, and she sealed the victory on her first match point.
The win was Gauff's first WTA title since last October in Wuhan, having come up short in finals in Miami and Rome earlier this year. She finished the tournament having lost only one set — her first against Liudmila Samsonova — before winning 12 consecutive sets. According to multiple reports, Gauff made just 23 double faults across six matches in Cincinnati.
The victory also squared the career head-to-head between the two Americans at five wins each. Gauff had previously beaten Pegula in the Wimbledon quarterfinals this season.
A Year of Transformation
Gauff's triumph was particularly poignant given her struggles at the same event a year ago. She was eliminated in the Cincinnati quarterfinals in 2025 by Jasmine Paolini, a match in which she served 16 double faults and made 62 unforced errors, as reported by The Guardian.
"I think it was a long journey, but I'm happy," Gauff said after the final, according to reports from The Tribune and The Guardian. "It is night and day, the player I was last year to now."
Gauff reflected on her emotions after last year's early exit, telling reporters she was left "in the parking lot in tears." In her trophy ceremony, she expanded on that moment, saying, "Last year, I was literally in the parking lot in tears, so it's a big difference what a year can make." The quote was carried by multiple outlets, including The Japan Times and Essentially Sports.
Behind that turnaround was a significant change in Gauff's team. After her 2025 Cincinnati exit, she hired biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan to completely reshape her serve, a decision that came days before the US Open. The challenge was compounded by the scrutiny that followed, including an emotional moment during her second-round match against Donna Vekic at last year's US Open, when Gauff cried on court. The Guardian detailed this period of desperation and the transformative effect the serve changes have had on her game.
Gauff also acknowledged the personal significance of the win, paying tribute to her family, who were not present at the final. She gave them a video call after the match, telling the crowd, "Thank you to my parents back at home, my brothers, my grandparents, all the family and friends that have been cheering for me, praying for me."
Pegula's Resilient Run and US Open Prospects
Despite the loss, Pegula cut a confident figure as she looks ahead to the US Open. The World No. 3 finished runner-up in Cincinnati after a demanding stretch that saw her play 13 matches over the past four weeks. She also reached the final in Washington DC and the last 16 in Toronto during that period.
"I'm actually feeling pretty good," Pegula said after the final, according to Lokmat Times. "When I got out there, I still felt like I was moving pretty well. I'm probably a little emotionally zapped. Just a lot of tough matches over the last couple days."
Pegula praised Gauff's performance, saying, "I don't think I played bad, but you played a very high level, it was not fun to play against" — a quote attributed to her by The Japan Times. She also noted that the tough matches in Cincinnati would serve her well at the Slam, adding, "You just kind of have to wipe it and move on."
Pegula is expected to be the No. 3 seed at the US Open, where she has reached at least the second week in each of the last four years, including a semifinal in 2025 and a runner-up finish in 2024. She is set to play mixed doubles with Taylor Fritz on Tuesday.
Looking Ahead to the US Open
Gauff was quick to temper expectations for the US Open, despite her dominant form. "I don't think that this is an indicator that I'm gonna do well in New York or anything like that," she said in her press conference, as reported by Essentially Sports. "To be honest, so I don't really take that into consideration."
Her caution is understandable: Gauff has a 20-6 record at Flushing Meadows, including a title in 2023, but she has also suffered consecutive fourth-round exits there over the past two years. Still, her form this hard-court season — semifinals in Toronto and a title in Cincinnati — has been impressive, and she becomes just the third player after Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams to win two Cincinnati titles.
Gauff also addressed the broader narrative of criticism facing top players. After the final, she defended her fellow stars Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka against doubters, saying, "You have a bad couple weeks on Tour, people say it's over and all this stupid stuff. No one's going to be great all 10 or 15 years of their career." The comments, carried by Essentially Sports, came after Swiatek had herself criticized internet doubters following her National Bank Open title.
Perspectives
Coco Gauff: The Cincinnati champion emphasized her growth from last year's struggles, crediting her resilience and team changes. She remains cautious about US Open expectations but acknowledges the confidence from her improved serve and aggressive play.
Jessica Pegula: The runner-up focused on her physical condition and the value of her demanding schedule, viewing the tough matches as preparation for the US Open. She praised Gauff's level but expressed confidence in her own game.
Player advocacy against criticism: Gauff and Swiatek both used their post-match moments to push back against online doubters, defending the consistency of top players over long careers.