Cincinnati [US], August 24 : US tennis star Coco Gauff outclassed Jessica Pegula to secure her second Cincinnati Open title on Sunday night.
In an all-USA title clash, a first at the tournament in 56 years, Gauff defeated Pegula 6-2, 6-4, joining Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka in the elite list of stars to have won the title more than once in the Open era, as per Olympics.com.
The fourth seed raced to a 5-0 lead in the first set within just half an hour and ended the first set at 6-2. Having failed to serve out the match in the eighth game of the second set, she broke Pegula to love, finishing the game in 74 minutes.
"I think it was a long journey, but I am happy," Gauff told reporters after the match, as quoted by Olympics.com.
"It is night and day, the player I was last year to now. I do not think that this is an indicator that I am going to do well in New York (at the US Open). Just knowing the quality ones that I had this week, hopefully I can use that experience," she added.
Gauff had lost to runner-up Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals of the 2025 US Open, and the 22-year-old was left questioning if she belonged at the highest level or not, but now she has her fourth career WTA 1000 title in hand.
"Last year, I was just frustrated with my game, and I felt like I was declining. It is not something any player wants to feel," said Gauff.
Pegula hailed her opponent's performance, saying that she was playing at an "extremely high" level.
"It was really tough today. I did not really think I played bad. I thought I was setting up the points pretty well. Kudos to her. It is just so hard when you play somebody that moves like that. She is the best mover on tour, I think, by far," the third seed signed off.