Gauff gears up for US Open with Cincinnati triumph

After losing the first set in her opening match against Liudmila Samsonova, Gauff won the next 12 to earn the trophy in Cincinnati

• Published26 minutes ago

Coco Gauff powered past third seed Jessica Pegula in the final of the Cincinnati Open to win her first title of 2026 and make a statement before the US Open.

The 22-year-old American needed only an hour and 14 minutes to defeat compatriot Pegula 6-2 6-4 as she became just the third two-time champion of the WTA 1,000 event, joining Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.

When Gauff won the Cincinnati trophy in 2023, she went on to win her first Grand Slam title at the the US Open three weeks later.

By claiming her first WTA title since winning in Wuhan last October, the two-time major winner has reinstated herself as one of the favourites at Flushing Meadows.

"I think with each match, I was feeling more and more confident in trusting the work that I put in and the practice - knowing that I can figure out these matches," said world number four Gauff, who dropped just one set in Cincinnati.

"It's going to be tough in New York, but just knowing the quality wins that I had this week, knowing that I'm able to figure it out even if I'm not playing my best, but also knowing that I can play that great tennis that I felt like I was playing this week."

Qualifying for the US Open started on Sunday, while the main draw begins on Sunday, 30 August.

Fils beats Tiafoe to win biggest title of career

Fils is the first Frenchman to win a Masters 1,000 event since Jo-Wilfried Tsonga took the title in Toronto in 2014

In the men's final, Arthur Fils secured the first ATP Masters 1,000 title of his career by holding off American home hope Frances Tiafoe in a 6-3 1-6 6-0 win.

Fils, 22, has long been one of the best young players on the tour, but his career has been disrupted by a series of injuries.

However, he has now won two ATP Tour titles since returning in February after nine months on the sidelines with a stress fracture in his back.

"Wow, that feels good. That feels good," said Fils, who rises to a career-high 11th in the world rankings.

"It's a lot of training, a lot of things, a lot of sacrifice. Injury. To be able to win one title like this means a lot to me."

Related topics

• Tennis

More on this story

• Williams and Alcaraz to play US Open mixed doubles

  • Published1 day ago
  

• US Open offers biggest prize fund in Grand Slam history

  • Published3 days ago
  

• 'I feel I am imprisoning myself' - Djokovic on drive & doubts

  • Published3 days ago
  

• Get tennis news sent straight to your phone

  • Published8 June