Coco Gauff dominates Jessica Pegula to claim second Cincinnati open title

Coco Gauff delivered a commanding performance ahead of the US Open, defeating fellow American Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 to capture her first title of 2026 at the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati.

The world No. 4 had been searching for her first trophy since winning in Wuhan last October, having finished runner-up in both Miami and Rome earlier this season.

Gauff’s victory over world No. 3 Pegula secured her second Cincinnati Open title, following her breakthrough triumph at the tournament in 2023. That victory was followed by Gauff’s first Grand Slam title at the US Open later that year.

The all-American final was the first women’s singles championship match in Cincinnati between two American players since Rosie Casals defeated Nancy Richey in 1970.

Gauff Heads to New York With Confidence

Despite her impressive victory, Gauff was quick to play down the idea that her Cincinnati performance guarantees success at the upcoming US Open.

“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.

However, the 22-year-old acknowledged that the title gives her valuable confidence heading into the final Grand Slam of the season.

“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,” she added.

“Hopefully I can use the experience here in New York.”

Gauff completed her impressive run in Cincinnati in just 75 minutes and will now head to New York full of momentum when the US Open begins next Sunday.

The result represents a dramatic turnaround from her experience in Cincinnati a year ago.

A Dramatic Turnaround From 2025

Gauff suffered an early exit in Cincinnati last year and later admitted that she was left “in the parking lot in tears” after hitting 16 double faults during her defeat.

“It’s a big difference, what a year can make,” Gauff said.

Her struggles with her serve became such a concern that she brought in a new coach just days before the US Open last year.

“Last year I was just frustrated with my game, and I felt like I was declining,” she explained. “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.”

This time around, Gauff looked far more comfortable on serve and produced a consistent display against Pegula.

Gauff Controls Final From Start to Finish

Pegula entered the final with confidence after defeating defending champion Iga Swiatek in a hard-fought semifinal, but she struggled to cope with Gauff’s combination of speed, power and aggressive baseline play.

Gauff immediately took control, breaking Pegula twice to race into a 4-0 lead.

Pegula finally got on the scoreboard and managed to recover one of the breaks, but her comeback was short-lived. Gauff broke again before closing out the opening set 6-2 after 34 minutes.

The second set followed a similar pattern.

Gauff broke early to establish a 3-0 advantage, forcing Pegula to chase the match once again. The third-ranked American battled throughout, but Gauff remained in control and eventually sealed the championship on her first match point.

The victory also leveled the career head-to-head record between Gauff and Pegula at 5-5.

It was Gauff’s second win over her compatriot this season after she defeated Pegula in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

Pegula Praises Gauff’s Momentum

Despite the defeat, Pegula remained positive about her own performance heading into the final Grand Slam of the season.

“I don’t think I played bad but you played a very high level, it was not fun to play against,” Pegula told Gauff during the trophy ceremony.

She then offered a strong endorsement of Gauff’s form heading into New York:

“You have amazing momentum heading into the US Open.”

For Gauff, the Cincinnati title provides the perfect boost before her return to Flushing Meadows, where she will look to add another Grand Slam trophy to her growing collection.