On Sunday, August 17, 2025, Coco Gauff joined an exclusive group of Cincinnati Open champions after defeating compatriot Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-3 in the final.

The victory marked Gauff’s second Cincinnati title, putting her alongside Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka as the only women to have won the WTA 1000 event twice. It was also a striking turnaround from her experience at the tournament a year earlier.

Gauff’s 2025 Cincinnati campaign ended in a quarter-final loss to Yulia Putintseva, where 16 double faults contributed to a frustrating afternoon for the defending champion. A year later, she returned markedly improved, overcoming a strong field to seal her second Cincinnati Open title.

“Last year I was in a weird predicament, made sudden decisions that most people probably wouldn’t do before a Slam, but I think it’s worth it. Obviously, I feel it’s night and day the player I am from last year to now,” Gauff said after her victory.

“I think it was a long journey, but I’m happy.”

That journey has now brought Gauff her 12th WTA singles title, perhaps at the best possible time ahead of the final Grand Slam of the season, the US Open in New York.

Before the Cincinnati Open, Gauff was coming off a 10-month trophy drought, despite reaching the finals in Miami and Rome and the semifinals at Wimbledon, Dubai, and Toronto. Cincinnati finally gave her a title that had been missing from those deep runs.

The triumph is also a reflection of the work she has put in since bringing in biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan and coach JC to rework her serve and mental approach.

While those changes do not guarantee another deep run in New York, they give Gauff confidence and momentum heading into the US Open, where she won her maiden Grand Slam title in 2023. 

“I think it’s the most chaotic Slam. Every practice has so many fans, and obviously being American they’re all happy to see me, and I’m happy to see them as well,” she told WTA Tennis.

“Just the energy that I get in New York, it really makes me want to improve, do better and perform well in front of them. It’s the most youthful week, so looking forward to being around all the kids.”