By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, August 23, 2026
Photo credit: Cincinnati Open Facebook
Bouncing on her toes behind the baseline, Coco Gauff sent a statement of intent before she struck a shot.
A spirited Gauff was a fierce front runner tonight.
Bursting out to 3-0 leads in both sets, Gauff sped past Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 in an all-American Cincinnati Open final to streak to her first title of the season.
It is Gauff’s 12th career title and first since the 2025 Wuhan final when she beat Pegula.
In the last WTA 1000 before the US Open, Gauff reinforced her reputation as a leading title threat for Flushing Meadows—and as American Alpha improving to 9-0 vs. compatriots in 2026.
“I think today I was playing really well,” Gauff told Tennis Channel’s Andrea Petkovic and Mark Petchey afterward. “I think today I was focused on trying to serve well because I know she’s one of the best returners on Tour.
“I’m really happy to hold this trophy again.”
Queen City queen Gauff joins Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka as the third woman to win Cincinnati twice. Next, she’ll set her sights on capturing a second US Open title.
Three years ago, Gauff turned North American hard court season into the Summer of Coco capturing Washington, DC, Cincinnati and the US Open.
Throughout this run to her second Cincinnati title, Gauff has served with confidence—she blasted a 124 mph ace tonight—masterfully mixed her spins, returned with aggression and unleashed her dynamic athleticism to drain opponents in extended exchanges. Gauff dropped her first set of the tournament to Liudmila Samsonova and did not drop another set collecting her fourth WTA 1000 championship.
The fourth-seeded Gauff converted five of six break points in a 74-minute triumph over WTA wins leader Pegula, who fell to 45-12 on the season.
Friends and former doubles partners faced off in the first all-American Cincinnati Open women’s final since 1970 when Rosie Casals topped Nancy Richey.
The 10-year, 18-day age gap between the 32-year-old Pegula and 22-year-old Gauff was the greatest gulf between finalists in Cincinnati history.
The speedy Gauff, who cruised through her semifinal win over Sara Bejlek in 76 minutes last night, exuded more energy at the outset. Pegula, who spent a combined five hours on court with her marathon quarterfinal conquest of Amanda Anisimova and her semifinal
Gauff won the toss, elected to serve and followed a double fault with an ace eventually sliding a backhand down the line to hold.
Establishing the consistency of a moveable wall, Gauff went into lockdown mode, repelled everything Pegula hit at her in an 18-shot rally ending with a netted forehand. Gauff broke for a 2-0 lead.
Conjuring creativity on the move, Gauff won an electric point between the former world No. 1 doubles players. Pegula picked up a low backhand volley and appeared in a winning position when Gauff flicked an acute-angled backhand pass. Gauff flashed a smile to her box after delivering that bit of magic to hold for 3-0.
Twenty minutes into the match, Gauff cracked a body serve into the rib cage banging out a strong hold at 15 for a 5-0 lead after only 20 minutes of play.
Facing a Love-30 deficit in the ensuing game, Pegula was two points from a bagel.
Showing a steely competitive spine, Pegula tore through nine of the next 10 points. Pegula bumped a low backhand volley into the corner breaking at love for 2-5.
Still Gauff was challenging her former doubles partner’s serve—and coming up with some slick running passes when Pegula attacked.
Deadlocked at deuce, Pegula played a forehand drive volley, a backhand drive volley, then carved another backhand volley into the corner. That offensive assault would have buried most opponents.
Not Gauff.
Sliding into a snazzy one-handed backhand pass brought Gauff set point in stirring style. Pegula overhit a forehand as Gauff scored her third break to snare a one-set lead after 34 minutes.
At her best, Pegula can straddle the baseline, take the ball on the rise and hammer flat strikes into the corners.
A depleted Pegula struggled at times to take Gauff’s topspin at the top of the bounce. A series of deep drives from Gauff drew a netted forehand as she broke for 2-0.
Wasting no time on serve, Gauff rocketed a 124 mile-an-hour ace down the T. That major blast helped her open a 3-0 lead for the second straight set.
Popping her serve with commitment, Gauff stamped the first love hold of the night extending her lead to 6-2, 5-2.
Though Gauff served for the title in the ninth game, Pegula was not done.
Running her former doubles partner corner to corner, Pegula went on the offensive. Leaning into a heavy crosscourt backhand, Pegula opened the court and drew the running error to break back for 4-5.
Resetting, Gauff was bouncing on her toes behind the baseline playing unrelenting defense. Gauff drew a flat forehand into net for Love-30 then made a few fantastic digs to extend the point coaxing a netted backhand drive volley for triple match point.
On this night, there was no denying Gauff her first title of the year.
Pegula netted one final drive, Gauff flung her Head racquet aside, broke into a wide grin and pointed an index finger to her temple in a show of mental strength.
Afterward, Gauff confessed she spent some time in tears in the Cincinnati parking lot after her loss to Jasmine Paolini last August.
Today, Gauff exuded the genuine joy she showed on court throughout that breakout 2023 run.
If Gauff can continue to serve with this conviction and apply her all-court acumen, looking for her to shrink Arthur Ashe Stadium and make another deep run.
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