American tennis player Coco Gauff won the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati on Sunday, defeating compatriot Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 in the final according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). The victory marks Gauff’s first title of the season and her second career victory in Ohio following her 2023 title run.
Coco Gauff Secures Straight-Sets Victory Over Jessica Pegula
World number four Coco Gauff secured the championship in one hour and 15 minutes against third-ranked Jessica Pegula, according to AFP reporting. Gauff applied early pressure, breaking her opponent’s service twice to dominate the opening set. Pegula struggled to find answers against Gauff’s aggression, particularly after contesting a grueling two-hour and 47-minute match the previous day where she eliminated defending champion Iga Swiatek, as noted by AFP and Eurosport. Despite a tighter second set featuring extended baseline rallies, Gauff maintained her composure to close out the 6-2, 6-4 win in the first all-American Cincinnati final since Rosie Casals defeated Nancy Richey in 1970, according to tournament records cited by AFP.
Momentum Ahead of the US Open
Entering the final stretch before the US Open, Coco Gauff heads to New York with significant momentum. According to AFP, the 22-year-old American captured her first Grand Slam title in New York after her first Cincinnati victory in 2023. Her solid performances throughout the Ohio draw demonstrated the competitive form required as the US Open approaches in one week. Speaking after the match, Gauff reflected on her relationship with the runner-up, stating, “Quand j’ai fait mes débuts sur le circuit, Jess a été l’une des rares joueuses à se montrer gentille avec moi, et cela a toujours compté énormément pour moi et ma famille.” Pegula acknowledged the outcome post-match, saying, “Je ne pense pas que j’ai été mauvaise, tu as simplement été meilleure.”
Arthur Fils Claims Men’s Title in Cincinnati
In the men’s draw at the Cincinnati Masters 1000, French player Arthur Fils captured the biggest title of his career by defeating American Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 on Sunday. The 22-year-old right-hander became the fifth French player in history to win a Masters 1000 tournament and the first since Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2014. Fils acknowledged the physical hurdles he overcame following a hip injury that kept him away from the courts for a good part of 2025, stating, “Gagner un titre comme celui-ci signifie beaucoup pour moi” after “beaucoup de sacrifices.” The victory propels Fils from 21st to 11th in the world rankings just days before the start of the US Open.
Worth a look