Coco Gauff: “I Feel Like It’s Night and Day Where I Am From Last Year to Now” — Gauff Claims Cincinnati Crown Over Jessica Pegula
Only three women in the Open Era can claim two Cincinnati Open titles: Victoria Azarenka, Serena Williams, and now Coco Gauff.
On Sunday night at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, the 22-year-old American captured her second Rookwood Cup with a commanding 6-2, 6-4 victory over friend and frequent doubles partner Jessica Pegula. The 74-minute contest marked the first all-American WTA final in Cincinnati since 1970.
Despite holding a 40-13 match record in 2026, the victory marks Gauff’s first title of the season and her fourth career WTA 1000 crown.
Overcoming Past Parking Lot Heartbreak
Gauff’s triumph represents a dramatic turnaround from her experience in Mason a year ago. Following a disappointing quarterfinals exit in 2025, she was left questioning her game in tears in the parking lot.
“I think last year, I was just frustrated with my game and I felt like I was declining. It’s not something any player wants to feel,” said Gauff, who leveled her career head-to-head with Pegula at 5-5. “You always want to feel like you’re getting better or, at the worst, just plateauing. So last year I was in a weird predicament. I made sudden decisions that most people probably wouldn’t do before a Slam, but I think it was worth it. I feel like it’s night and day where I am from last year to now.”
Pegula Praises Gauff’s Movement and Level
Pegula, who was seeking her third title of the 2026 season following victories in Dubai and Charleston, found no answer for Gauff’s relentless defense and aggressive shot-making.
“I thought the level that she was playing at was extremely high,” Pegula said. “It was really tough today. I didn’t really think I played bad. I thought I was setting up the points pretty well. Kudos to her. It’s just so hard when you play somebody that moves like that. She’s the best mover on tour, I think, by far. Just the way she’s able to defend out of the corners is better than anybody else. That’s really her strength. Right now, a dangerous, confident Coco is going to be hard going into New York.”
Reframing Mindset Ahead of Flushing Meadows
Having reached finals in Miami and Rome and semifinals at Dubai and Wimbledon earlier this season, Gauff credited her coaching team—Jean-Christophe Faurel and Gavin MacMillan—for helping rebuild her self-belief.
“Gavin and J.C. have done a great job, kind of reworking my mind and reminding me of the player I am,” Gauff reflected. “I think I lost that a little bit, maybe sometimes feeding into the noise of some people who were saying I was lucky to win certain titles and things like that. Now I’m in the mindset that I deserve everything that I have gotten so far, and I’ve worked really hard for it.”
Gauff now turns her focus to Flushing Meadows, where she previously backed up her 2023 Cincinnati title by winning her maiden Grand Slam trophy.
