Coco Gauff beats Pegula to win second Cincinnati title

Coco Gauff defeated Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 in the Cincinnati final on Sunday, securing her second WTA 1000 title at the tournament and her first trophy of 2026. The 22-year-old American, ranked fourth, needed just 74 minutes to overcome her former doubles partner, who is ranked third Source: Infobae.

Historic win

Gauff becomes only the third woman in the Open Era to win multiple Cincinnati titles, joining Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka Source: Excelsior. This is her 12th career WTA title and her fourth consecutive year with at least one WTA 1000 victory Source: Infobae. Notably, her only Grand Slam triumph at the US Open came after winning Cincinnati in 2023, a parallel she hopes to repeat as the tournament begins on August 30 Source: Excelsior.

The final

Gauff dominated from the start, breaking Pegula early and taking the first set in 35 minutes. She led 5-2 in the second before Pegula mounted a brief comeback, breaking serve to close to 5-4, but Gauff immediately broke back to seal the match Source: Excelsior. Pegula, 32, was playing her second Cincinnati final after losing to Aryna Sabalenka in 2024 and had spent nearly three hours in her semifinal win over Iga Swiatek Source: Excelsior.

Friendship and respect

Both players spoke warmly of their relationship. Gauff noted, "I don't like seeing you on the other side of the court," and recalled Pegula's kindness when she first joined the tour Source: Excelsior. Pegula expressed mutual respect, saying, "We know each other so well and I have so much respect for you that I just enjoy sharing the court with you" Source: Excelsior. The final was the first all-American Cincinnati final since 1970 Source: Excelsior.