In just the second all-American women's singles final at the Cincinnati Open since 1970, Coco Gauff defeated Jessica Pegula to win the WTA 1000 event. It was Gauff's second Cincinnati Open title. My @tennistourtalk.bsky.social story 🎾 #tennis #CincyTennis tennistourtalk.com/136989/gauff...
— Michael Dickens (@michaelcdickens.bsky.social) August 24, 2026 at 5:59 AM
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Earlier this month, I wondered--after Rybakina, Andreeva and Noskova--who would be next to win a major in 2026? And after the last couple of weeks in Cincinnati, one would be very likely to say "Coco Gauff." The 22-year-old two-time major champion quite obviously went with the Angie Kerber "identify it, own it, fix it" school of problem-solving, and has brought her game to new level. It seemed almost unreal to see her dismantle Jessica Pegula--who was in peak form throughout the Cincinnati Open--6-2, 6-4 in the final.
This was Gauff's first title of the season, but it was a big one. She won Cincinnati in 2023, too, then went to Flushing Meadows and won the U.S. Open. It could happen again.
In the meantime, Elena Rybakina injured her achilles in Cincinnati and had to retire from her quarterfinal match; one hopes that she'll be healthy for the U.S. Open. And Iga Swiatek, who recently won her first title of the season in Toronto, looked good in Cincinnati, but was stopped by Pegula in a close match in the semifinals.
The U.S. Open title is certainly up for grabs, but there's no denying now that Gauff is a major contender.
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