Coco Gauff Wins Second Cincinnati Open Title; Arthur Fils Beats Tiafoe/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Coco Gauff defeated Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 to win her second Cincinnati Open women’s title. Arthur Fils beat Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 to capture his first Masters 1000 championship. The finals delivered several historic milestones ahead of the US Open, including the first ATP Masters 1000 final between two Black players.
Quick Look
- Gauff defeated Pegula 6-2, 6-4.
- It was Gauff’s second Cincinnati Open title.
- Gauff won all five of her tournament matches in straight sets.
- She converted five of six break-point opportunities.
- The Gauff-Pegula head-to-head record is tied 5-5.
- Fils defeated Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0.
- The Frenchman earned his first Masters 1000 championship.
- Fils became the youngest French Masters 1000 champion at age 22.
- Fils improved to 10-0 in deciding sets this season.
- He is 8-0 against American opponents this year.
- Tiafoe received treatment for his hip, upper left leg and lower back.
- Both champions will carry momentum into the US Open.
Deep Look
Gauff captures second Cincinnati championship
MASON, Ohio — Coco Gauff defeated fellow American Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 on Sunday to win her second Cincinnati Open women’s championship.
Gauff dominated the opening stages of the match, racing to a 5-0 lead in the first set before closing it out 6-2.
Pegula fought back in the second set and narrowed Gauff’s advantage to 5-4. Gauff then held firm to complete the straight-set victory.
Gauff converted five of her six break-point opportunities and finished the tournament with five consecutive straight-set wins.
First all-American women’s final in 56 years
The championship match was the first Cincinnati Open women’s final between two Americans since 1970.
Rosie Casals defeated Nancy Richey in the previous all-American final 56 years earlier.
Pegula reached Sunday’s match by defeating defending champion Iga Swiatek in Saturday’s semifinals. Gauff advanced by beating Sara Bejlek.
Pegula’s previous best performance in Cincinnati came in 2024, when she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the championship match.
Gauff sees major improvement in her game
Gauff previously won the Cincinnati title in 2023, defeating Karolina Muchova in the final.
“I think it was a long journey, but I’m happy,” Gauff said. “I think it’s night and day, the player I was last year to now. I don’t think that this is an indicator that I’m going to do well in New York. Just knowing the quality ones that I had this week, hopefully I can use that experience.”
Her Cincinnati performance provided an important confidence boost before the US Open, although Gauff cautioned against viewing the title as a guarantee of success in New York.
Pegula praises a confident Gauff
Pegula said Gauff maintained a consistently high level throughout the match.
“I thought she just played at a really high level and didn’t really have many dips,” Pegula said. “I didn’t really think I played bad. The more you construct the point (against her), the worse it is because she almost likes to run. It was tough today. A dangerous, confident Coco is going to New York.”
The victory tied the career head-to-head series between Gauff and Pegula at five wins each.
Sunday marked their second meeting in a tournament final. Gauff also defeated Pegula in the Wuhan championship match the previous year.
Fils defeats Tiafoe in historic men’s final
Arthur Fils of France captured the men’s Cincinnati Open title by defeating American Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0.
The match was the first ATP Masters 1000 final contested by two Black players.
Fils became the third Black man to win a Masters 1000 title. He joined Ben Shelton, a two-time champion in Canada, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who won in Paris in 2008 and Canada in 2014.
At 22, Fils also became the youngest French player to win a Masters 1000 tournament.
He was the second Frenchman to win the Cincinnati men’s title, joining Guy Forget, who prevailed in 1991.
Fils responds after a difficult year
The Cincinnati victory followed a challenging stretch for Fils, who missed the French Open because of a hip injury and suffered an early loss in Washington.
“Very happy with that,” Fils said. “It’s been a tough last year. I didn’t play the French Open (due to a hip injury). I lost early in Washington. People think that I’m done. But here we are. I got the title.”
The championship was the biggest of Fils’ career and reinforced his return to form ahead of the US Open.
Tiafoe falls short in second Cincinnati final
Tiafoe was competing in the Cincinnati championship match for the second time.
He lost to Jannik Sinner in the 2024 final and was attempting to become the first American man to win the tournament since Andy Roddick in 2006.
“I’m going to have two Cincinnati finals trophies at the crib,” Tiafoe said. “I wish they were both champion ones. Losing on Sunday sucks. I’ve had a tough summer. I was able to play five great matches and beat quality players.”
Despite the defeat, Tiafoe viewed the week as progress following a difficult summer.
Momentum shifts sharply during final
Fils dominated the beginning of the match, winning 12 of 13 points to establish a 3-0 lead in the opening set.
Tiafoe reversed the momentum in the second set, taking his own 3-0 lead and cruising to a 6-1 win.
During the break before the deciding set, Tiafoe stretched and received massage treatment on his upper left leg and lower back.
“My hip bothered me a little bit, but that’s neither here nor there,” Tiafoe said. “It’s not about how I feel. I’ll be alright in a week (for the US Open).”
Fils regained control in the third set and won it 6-0.
Tiafoe saved three championship points in the final game before Fils completed the victory.
Fils extends unbeaten deciding-set record
Fils finished the match with 11 aces and won 71% of the points played behind his first serve.
The Frenchman improved to 10-0 in deciding sets this year and 8-0 against American opponents.
He also won his only previous meeting with Tiafoe, defeating him in three sets in Miami the previous year.
“It feels very good to have a trophy next to me, especially Masters 1000,” Fils said. “Never won one before. You just have to stay positive and find a way to make it work. Being positive is going to help me in the next weeks in the US Open.”
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