CINCY CONQUEST

CINCINNATI (AFP) — Coco Gauff made a statement Sunday with the US Open approaching, dominating Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 to win her first title of 2026 at the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati.

World No. 4 Gauff claimed her first WTA title since last October in Wuhan, having come up short in finals in Miami and Rome this year.

Her victory over third-ranked Pegula gave her a second Cincinnati crown. Gauff earned her first in 2023, going on to claim the first of her two Grand Slam titles at the US Open that year.

The first all-American WTA final in Cincinnati since Rosie Casals beat Nancy Richey in 1970 was a lopsided affair.

Gauff insisted it shouldn't be considered a barometer for the US Open, but admitted it was a welcome confidence boost.

"I don't think that this is an indicator that I'm going to do well in New York or anything like that to be honest," Gauff said, but added: "(I'm going in) knowing that I can figure out these matches (even if) I'm not playing my best, but also knowing that I can play that great tennis that I felt I was playing this week.”

"Hopefully, I can use the experience here in New York."

Gauff polished off an impressive tournament with victory in 75 minutes and will head to New York riding a wave of confidence for the start of the US Open next Sunday.

It's a far cry from an early exit in Cincinnati last year, which Gauff said left her "in the parking lot in tears" after she coughed up 16 double-faults in defeat.

"It's a big difference, what a year can make," added Gauff, who was so bothered by her service struggles this time last year that she hired a new coach a few days before the US Open.”

"Last year I was just frustrated with my game, and I felt like I was declining," she said. "It's not something any player wants to feel. You always want to feel like you're getting better, at the worst, like just plateauing."

This time around Gauff was rock-solid on serve and Pegula, coming off a hard-fought win over defending champion Iga Swiatek, had no answer for Gauff's speed and aggression.

Gauff broke Pegula twice for a 4-0 lead and was up 5-0 before Pegula got on the scoreboard, holding serve and clawing back a break.

It was a brief reprieve as Gauff broke again to pocket the opening set after 34 minutes.

The second set was more of the same, Gauff breaking on the way to a 3-0 lead and Pegula playing catch-up.

Gauff sealed victory on her first match point to conclude 12 days of tennis at the sprawling Midwest venue.

Gauff's win squared the career series between the two at five wins each. Gauff won her second match this season against Pegula after defeating her compatriot in a Wimbledon quarterfinal.

Pegula was not displeased with her own performance heading into the final Grand Slam of the season.

"I don't think I played bad but you played a very high level, it was not fun to play against," she told Gauff during the trophy ceremony.

"You have amazing momentum heading into the US Open."