By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, August 23, 2026
Photograph credit score: Cincinnati Open Fb
Bouncing on her toes behind the baseline, Coco Gauff despatched an announcement of intent earlier than she struck a shot.
A spirited Gauff was a fierce entrance runner tonight.
Bursting out to 3-0 leads in each units, Gauff sped previous Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 in an all-American Cincinnati Open ultimate to streak to her first title of the season.
It’s Gauff’s twelfth profession title and first for the reason that 2025 Wuhan ultimate when she beat Pegula.
Within the final WTA 1000 earlier than the US Open, Gauff bolstered her repute as a number one title menace for Flushing Meadows—and as American Alpha bettering to 9-0 vs. compatriots in 2026.
“I believe right now I used to be enjoying rather well,” Gauff instructed Tennis Channel’s Andrea Petkovic and Mark Petchey afterward. “I believe right now I used to be centered on making an attempt to serve nicely as a result of I do know she’s probably the greatest returners on Tour.
“I’m actually completely happy to carry this trophy once more.”
Queen Metropolis queen Gauff joins Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka because the third girl to win Cincinnati twice. Subsequent, she’ll set her sights on capturing a second US Open title.
Three years in the past, Gauff turned North American onerous courtroom season into the Summer season of Coco capturing Washington, DC, Cincinnati and the US Open.
All through this run to her second Cincinnati title, Gauff has served with confidence—she blasted a 124 mph ace tonight—masterfully blended her spins, returned with aggression and unleashed her dynamic athleticism to empty opponents in prolonged exchanges. Gauff dropped her first set of the event to Liudmila Samsonova and didn’t drop one other set accumulating her fourth WTA 1000 championship.
The fourth-seeded Gauff transformed 5 of six break factors in a 74-minute conquer WTA wins chief Pegula, who fell to 45-12 on the season.
Associates and former doubles companions confronted off within the first all-American Cincinnati Open ladies’s ultimate since 1970 when Rosie Casals topped Nancy Richey.
The ten-year, 18-day age hole between the 32-year-old Pegula and 22-year-old Gauff was the best gulf between finalists in Cincinnati historical past.
The speedy Gauff, who cruised by her semifinal win over Sara Bejlek in 76 minutes final night time, exuded extra vitality on the outset. Pegula, who spent a mixed 5 hours on courtroom together with her marathon quarterfinal conquest of Amanda Anisimova and her semifinal
Gauff received the toss, elected to serve and adopted a double fault with an ace ultimately sliding a backhand down the road to carry.
Establishing the consistency of a moveable wall, Gauff went into lockdown mode, repelled every part 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 transfer, Gauff received an electrical level between the previous world No. 1 doubles gamers. Pegula picked up a low backhand volley and appeared in a successful place when Gauff flicked an acute-angled backhand cross. Gauff flashed a smile to her field after delivering that little bit of magic to carry for 3-0.
Twenty minutes into the match, Gauff cracked a physique serve into the rib cage banging out a robust maintain at 15 for a 5-0 lead after solely 20 minutes of play.
Going through a Love-30 deficit within the ensuing sport, Pegula was two factors from a bagel.
Exhibiting a steely aggressive backbone, Pegula tore by 9 of the following 10 factors. Pegula bumped a low backhand volley into the nook breaking at love for 2-5.
Nonetheless Gauff was difficult her former doubles accomplice’s serve—and developing with some slick operating passes when Pegula attacked.
Deadlocked at deuce, Pegula performed a forehand drive volley, a backhand drive volley, then carved one other backhand volley into the nook. That offensive assault would have buried most opponents.
Not Gauff.
Sliding right into a snazzy one-handed backhand cross introduced Gauff set level in stirring type. Pegula overhit a forehand as Gauff scored her third break to snare a one-set lead after 34 minutes.
At her greatest, Pegula can straddle the baseline, take the ball on the rise and hammer flat strikes into the corners.
A depleted Pegula struggled at instances to take Gauff’s topspin on the high of the bounce. A collection of deep drives from Gauff drew a netted forehand as she broke for 2-0.
Losing no time on serve, Gauff rocketed a 124 mile-an-hour ace down the T. That main blast helped her open a 3-0 lead for the second straight set.
Popping her serve with dedication, Gauff stamped the primary love maintain of the night time extending her result in 6-2, 5-2.
Although Gauff served for the title within the ninth sport, Pegula was not performed.
Operating her former doubles accomplice nook to nook, Pegula went on the offensive. Leaning right into a heavy crosscourt backhand, Pegula opened the courtroom and drew the operating error to interrupt again for 4-5.
Resetting, Gauff was bouncing on her toes behind the baseline enjoying unrelenting protection. Gauff drew a flat forehand into web for Love-30 then made just a few implausible digs to increase the purpose coaxing a netted backhand drive volley for triple match level.
On this night time, there was no denying Gauff her first title of the yr.
Pegula netted one ultimate drive, Gauff flung her Head racquet apart, broke into a large grin and pointed an index finger to her temple in a present of psychological energy.
Afterward, Gauff confessed she spent a while in tears within the Cincinnati parking zone after her loss to Jasmine Paolini final August.
At the moment, Gauff exuded the real pleasure she confirmed on courtroom all through that breakout 2023 run.
If Gauff can proceed to serve with this conviction and apply her all-court acumen, searching for her to shrink Arthur Ashe Stadium and make one other deep run.
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