Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Gauff Defeats Pegula to Win Cincinnati Ahead of US Open
Coco Gauff won a major tennis tournament in Cincinnati.
She beat fellow American Jessica Pegula in two sets.
The final score was 6-2, 6-4, and the match lasted 75 minutes.
Gauff served much better than she did in Cincinnati the year before.
She also moved quickly and attacked Pegula’s shots.
This was Gauff’s first tournament title of 2026 and her second Cincinnati title.
Pegula had beaten defending champion Iga Swiatek before reaching the final, but she could not stop Gauff.
Gauff will now travel to New York for the US Open feeling confident.
Coco Gauff defeated Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 in 75 minutes to win Cincinnati’s WTA 1000 title.
The victory was Gauff’s first title of 2026 and her second Cincinnati championship.
Gauff broke Pegula twice in each set and used strong serving, speed and aggression to control the final.
The match was Cincinnati’s first all-American WTA final since Rosie Casals beat Nancy Richey in 1970.
Gauff will enter next week’s US Open with confidence after improving on her early Cincinnati exit and service struggles from last year.
- Who
- World number four Coco Gauff defeated world number three Jessica Pegula.
- What
- Gauff won the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati.
- When
- Sunday, with the US Open scheduled to begin the following Sunday.
- Where
- Cincinnati, United States.
- Why
- Gauff won through strong serving, speed, aggression and effective breaks of Pegula’s serve.
- Final score
- Coco Gauff defeated Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4.
- Match duration
- 75 minutes.
- Tournament
- WTA 1000 in Cincinnati.
- Gauff’s ranking
- World number four.
- Pegula’s ranking
- World number three.
- Gauff’s titles
- Her first title of 2026 and second Cincinnati crown.
- Career series
- The victory tied Gauff and Pegula at five wins each.
