Coco Gauff gains a clear shot of momentum heading into the US Open after a decisive victory in Cincinnati. The 22-year-old, ranked world number four, beat third seed Jessica Pegula 6-2 6-4 in one hour and 14 minutes to capture her first trophy of 2026. Gauff dropped only one set across the tournament and closed the final with a controlled performance that underlines her late-summer form.
The win in Cincinnati carries historical weight, it makes Gauff only the third player to claim that WTA 1000 title twice, joining Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka. Her previous Cincinnati triumph in 2023 preceded a run to the US Open title three weeks later, a sequence that now invites fresh comparisons as Flushing Meadows approaches. This is also her first WTA title since winning in Wuhan last October, a return to the winner’s circle that changes the narrative around her season.
Gauff framed the week as validation of her preparation. "I think with each match, I was feeling more and more confident in trusting the work that I put in and the practice - knowing that I can figure out these matches," said world number four Gauff, who dropped just one set in Cincinnati. "It's going to be tough in New York, but just knowing the quality wins that I had this week, knowing that I'm able to figure it out even if I'm not playing my best, but also knowing that I can play that great tennis that I felt like I was playing this week."
The opponent was a compatriot and the tournament’s third seed, Jessica Pegula, who Gauff subdued in straight sets. Beyond the trophy and the statistics, the practical consequence is immediate: the US Open main draw begins on Sunday, 30 August, and qualifying had started on Sunday. Gauff arrives in New York with reinforced credentials and heightened expectations, her Cincinnati form shaping how rivals and commentators will view her chances at Flushing Meadows.
