Coco Gauff celebrates with the Rookwood Cup after defeating Jessica Pegula throughout the Girls’s Last on day twelve of the Cincinnati Open. Picture: AFP
CINCINNATI:
Coco Gauff made a press release Sunday with the US Open approaching, dominating Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 to win her first title of 2026 on the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati.
World quantity 4 Gauff claimed her first WTA title since final October in Wuhan, having come up quick in finals in Miami and Rome this 12 months.
Her victory over third-ranked Pegula gave her a second Cincinnati crown. Gauff earned her first in 2023, happening to say the primary of her two Grand Slam titles on the US Open that 12 months.
The primary all-American WTA remaining in Cincinnati since Rosie Casals beat Nancy Richey in 1970 was a lopsided affair.
Gauff insisted it should not be thought-about a barometer for the US Open, however admitted it was a welcome confidence increase.
“I do not assume that that is an indicator that I will do effectively in New York or something like that to be sincere,” Gauff mentioned, however added: “(I am moving into) understanding that I can work out these matches (even when) I am not taking part in my finest, but in addition understanding that I can play that nice tennis that I felt I used to be taking part in this week.
“Hopefully I can use the expertise right here in New York.”
Gauff polished off a powerful event with victory in 75 minutes and can head to New York driving a wave of confidence for the beginning of the US Open subsequent Sunday.
It is a far cry from an early exit in Cincinnati final 12 months, which Gauff mentioned left her “within the car parking zone in tears” after she coughed up 16 double-faults in defeat.
“It is a huge distinction, what a 12 months could make,” added Gauff, who was so bothered by her service struggles this time final 12 months that she employed a brand new coach days earlier than the US Open.
“Final 12 months I used to be simply pissed off with my recreation, and I felt like I used to be declining,” she mentioned. “It isn’t one thing any participant desires to really feel. You at all times need to really feel such as you’re getting higher, on the worst, like simply plateauing.”
‘Wonderful momentum’
This time round Gauff was rock-solid on serve and Pegula, coming off a hard-fought win over defending champion Iga Swiatek, had no reply for Gauff’s pace and aggression.
Gauff broke Pegula twice for a 4-0 lead and was up 5-0 earlier than Pegula obtained on the scoreboard, holding serve and clawing again a break.
It was a quick reprieve as Gauff broke once more to pocket the opening set after 34 minutes.
The second set was extra of the identical, Gauff breaking on the way in which to a 3-0 lead and Pegula taking part in catch-up.
Gauff sealed victory on her first match level to conclude 12 days of tennis on the sprawling Midwest venue.
Gauff’s win squared the profession collection between the 2 at 5 wins every. Gauff gained her second match this season in opposition to Pegula after defeating her compatriot in a Wimbledon quarter-final.
Pegula was not displeased together with her personal efficiency heading into the ultimate Grand Slam of the season.
“I do not assume I performed dangerous however you performed a really excessive degree, it was not enjoyable to play in opposition to,” she advised Gauff throughout the trophy ceremony.
“You have got wonderful momentum heading into the US Open.”