Coco Gauff walked away from the Cincinnati Open with more than a trophy. Her 6-2, 6-4 win over fellow American Jessica Pegula gave her a second Cincinnati title, her first trophy of the 2026 season, and a serious statement heading into the US Open.
## An All-American Final for the History Books
Gauff and Pegula produced the tournament’s first all-American women’s final in 56 years, a matchup that hadn’t happened since 1970. Gauff raced to a 5-0 lead in the opening set and never let Pegula fully recover.
## The Numbers Behind the Run
– Gauff won 12 consecutive sets across the tournament, conceding just 32 games
– She won 65 percent of points on her first serve in the final, compared to 47 percent for Pegula
– The title was her fourth WTA 1000 crown and 12th career singles trophy
## A Serve Transformation
The win carries extra weight after a difficult 2025 Cincinnati campaign that included a string of double faults. Gauff worked with biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan to rebuild her service motion, and the results showed clearly in Ohio. That improvement now puts her among the biggest threats to Aryna Sabalenka’s bid for a third straight US Open title.
## Momentum Heading to Flushing Meadows
Gauff joins Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka as the only women to win Cincinnati twice in the Open Era, a group that underscores how significant this run was. She has been careful not to call the title a guarantee of US Open success, but the confidence and serve improvements give her a real case as a contender. For more on the woman standing between her and history, read our look at Sabalenka’s three-peat bid.