Gauff Beats Pegula To Win Second Cincinnati Open Title
In a battle between the two top-ranked American women in the world, it was the fourth-ranked Coco Gauff that got the better of third-ranked Jessica Pegula, with the former winning 6-2, 6-4 in the Cincinnati Open final on Sunday.
Gauff won the title back in 2023, and with her victory on Sunday, Gauff becomes only the third woman to win Cincinnati twice, joining Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.
“I think with each match, I was feeling more and more confident in trusting the work that I put in the practice,” Gauff said. “Knowing that I can figure out these matches, and 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.”
Gauff delivered a dominant two-week run in Cincinnati. She dropped the first set of her opening round match against Liudmila Samsonova, the American won the next 12 sets she played, including both on Sunday.
She quickly went ahead 5-0 in the opening set to claim the opener, and then pushed ahead 5-2 in the second set. Pegula would get one of the breaks back, but was subsequently broken at 4-5 as Gauff claimed the match and the title.
“I think it was a long journey, but I’m happy,” said Gauff. “I think it’s night and day, the player I was last year to now. I don’t think that this is an indicator that I’m going to do well in New York. Just knowing the quality ones that I had this week, hopefully I can use that experience.”
