Coco Gauff successfully defended her dominance at the Cincinnati Open, defeating fellow American Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 on Sunday to claim her second title at the tournament. Gauff, who previously won the event in 2023 by beating Karolina Muchova, dominated the opening set with a 5-0 lead before securing the victory. She successfully converted five of her six break points throughout the match.
This victory marked the first all-American women’s final at the Cincinnati Open in 56 years, a feat not seen since 1970 when Rosie Casals defeated Nancy Richey. Gauff’s path to the title included five straight-set victories. Reflecting on her performance, Gauff noted the significant growth in her game over the past year, emphasizing that while this win provides valuable experience, she remains focused on the upcoming challenges in New York.
Jessica Pegula, who reached the final after defeating defending champion Iga Swiatek in the semifinals, acknowledged Gauff’s high level of play. Pegula, whose best previous finish in Cincinnati was a runner-up result against Aryna Sabalenka in 2024, now holds a 5-5 head-to-head record against Gauff. The two had previously met in a final at Wuhan last year, where Gauff also emerged victorious.
In the men’s draw, Arthur Fils of France captured his first ATP Masters 1000 title by defeating American Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0. The match was historic as the first ATP Masters 1000 final contested between two Black players. At 22, Fils became the youngest French champion in the history of the tournament and only the second Frenchman to win the Cincinnati final, following Guy Forget’s 1991 victory.
Fils demonstrated remarkable resilience, maintaining an unblemished 10-0 record in deciding sets this year and an 8-0 record against American opponents. Despite a challenging year marked by a hip injury that forced him to miss the French Open and an early exit in Washington, the Frenchman expressed satisfaction with his comeback. He finished the match with 11 aces and won 71% of his points on his first serve.
For Frances Tiafoe, the loss marked his second runner-up finish in Cincinnati, having previously lost to Jannik Sinner in 2024. Despite the defeat, Tiafoe remained optimistic about his form heading into the US Open. He struggled with physical discomfort during the match, requiring treatment for his upper left leg and lower back before the third set. Tiafoe, who was aiming to become the first American man to win the title since Andy Roddick in 2006, noted that he would be ready for competition within a week.
Fils joins Ben Shelton and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as one of only three Black men to win a Masters 1000 title. The Frenchman credited his positive mindset for his success, noting that securing his first Masters 1000 trophy provides significant momentum for his upcoming campaign in the United States. The report also notes that but I’m happy,” Gauff said, i think it was a long journey. The report also notes that i don’t think that this is an indicator that I’m going to do well in New York. The report also notes that hopefully I can use that experience.”, just knowing the quality ones that I had this week. The report also notes that i thought she just played at a really high level and didn’t really have many dips,” Pegula said. The report also notes that the worse it is because she almost likes to run, the more you construct the point (against her). The report also notes that joining Ben Shelton, who won twice in Canada, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who won in Paris in 2008 and Canada in 2014, fils is the third Black man to win a Masters 1000 title.
