Coco Gauff smiling with both hands raised to applaud the court crowd

Coco Gauff smiles and acknowledges the stadium crowd after her championship win.

Coco Gauff is standard-setting, unstoppable, and officially back on top! The American tennis star has won the 2026 Cincinnati Open singles title, defeating fellow American Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 in a 75-minute final.

Facing third seed Pegula in a high-stakes, all-American final at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, fourth-seeded Gauff took complete command of the match right from the opening games. Pushing her opponent back with heavy serve placement, swift court coverage, and deep return depth, Gauff broke Pegula’s serve twice early on to build a rapid 4-0 cushion before taking the first set 6-2 in just 34 minutes.

Coco Gauff throwing her tennis racket into the air with arms raised in victory

Coco Gauff lets go of her racket in celebration following her final victory.

The second set unfolded with equal focus. Gauff bolted out to a 3-0 lead and maintained composure whenever Pegula threatened a comeback. Serving for the championship, Gauff closed out the match 6-2, 6-4 in 75 minutes, converting her very first match point to claim her first title of the 2026 season.

Her path through the tournament was a display of efficiency and tactical poise:

  • Round of 64: defeated Liudmila Samsonova 2-6, 6-4, 6-1

  • Round of 32: defeated Ann Li 6-1, 7-6(3)

  • Round of 16: defeated Marie Bouzková 6-3, 6-2

  • Quarter-finals: defeated Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-2

  • Semi-finals: defeated Sara Bejlek 6-4, 6-1

  • Final: defeated Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4

Coco Gauff shouting in jubilation after winning match point at the Cincinnati Open

Coco Gauff reacts after securing her match-winning point at the Cincinnati Open.

During the post-match ceremony, Gauff offered a playful yet sincere tribute to her doubles partner and friend:

I don’t like seeing you on the other side of the court. So, but I like playing with you, but yeah. I just want to say congratulations. You’re an incredible person and player. And congrats to your team, you guys are also incredible people. One of the best teams on tour. And yeah, also just like to thank Jess.

Like she said, when I first came on tour, she was one of the few players that was nice to me, and that’s always—no, seriously, that’s always stuck a long way with me and my family. And I have so much respect for you. So it’s an honour to share the court with you once again, and hopefully we can run it back a couple times.

This victory marks Gauff’s second Cincinnati Open trophy, adding to her 2023 triumph at the event. Currently ranked World No. 4 in the WTA singles standings, the 22-year-old heads into Flushing Meadows for the US Open with immense momentum.

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula posing together with tennis rackets at the net

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula pose at the net prior to their all-American final.

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Photo Credit: Cincinnati Open/Instagram