Coco Gauff holds off Jessica Pegula to claim second Cincinnati Open title

[p]World number four [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gauff-coco/f5BXmEH6/"]Gauff[/a] claimed her first WTA title since last October in Wuhan, having come up short in finals in Miami and Rome this year.[/p][p]Her victory over third-ranked [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pegula-jessica/KdojxrAR/"]Pegula[/a] gave her a second Cincinnati crown. Gauff earned her first in 2023, going on to claim the first of her two Grand Slam titles at the US Open that year.[/p][embed guid="9b9130d2-f955-40be-99dc-7e2f7f35d1c8" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2091683783850242450?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The first all-American WTA final in Cincinnati since Rosie Casals beat Nancy Richey in 1970 was a lopsided affair.[/p][p]Gauff insisted it shouldn't be considered a barometer for the US Open, but admitted it was a welcome confidence boost.[/p][p][b]"I don't think that this is an indicator that I'm going to do well in New York or anything like that to be honest,"[/b] Gauff said, but added: [b]"(I'm going in) knowing that I can figure out these matches (even if) I'm not playing my best, but also knowing that I can play that great tennis that I felt I was playing this week.[/b][/p][p][b]"Hopefully I can use the experience here in New York."[/b][/p][p]Gauff polished off an impressive tournament with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/gauff-c-f5BXmEH6/pegula-j-KdojxrAR/?mid=nL3a3dK7"]victory in 75 minutes[/a] and will head to New York riding a wave of confidence for the start of the US Open next Sunday.[/p][p]It's a far cry from an early exit in Cincinnati last year, which Gauff said left her "in the parking lot in tears" after she coughed up 16 double-faults in defeat.[/p][p][b]"It's a big difference, what a year can make," [/b]added Gauff, who was so bothered by her service struggles this time last year that she hired a new coach days before the US Open.[/p][p][b]"Last year I was just frustrated with my game, and I felt like I was declining,"[/b] she said.[b] "It's not something any player wants to feel. You always want to feel like you're getting better, at the worst, like just plateauing."[/b][/p][embed guid="c1de0ae7-24b7-4449-86a2-e832a5aea200" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2_awLHqcww" social-type="youtube" /][h2]'Amazing momentum'[/h2][p]This time around Gauff was rock-solid on serve and Pegula, coming off a hard-fought win over defending champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/swiatek-iga/jNyZsXZe/"]Iga Swiatek[/a], had no answer for Gauff's speed and aggression.[/p][p]Gauff broke Pegula twice for a 4-0 lead and was up 5-0 before Pegula got on the scoreboard, holding serve and clawing back a break.[/p][p][b]It was a brief reprieve as Gauff broke again to pocket the opening set after 34 minutes.[/b][/p][p]The second set was more of the same, Gauff breaking on the way to a 3-0 lead and Pegula playing catch-up.[/p][p]Gauff sealed victory on her first match point to conclude 12 days of tennis at the sprawling Midwest venue.[/p][embed guid="caaa7199-758e-4ed4-bf65-ca37d483cdc7" url="https://x.com/TennisChannel/status/2091688117832954103?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Gauff's win squared the career series between the two at five wins each. Gauff won her second match this season against Pegula after defeating her compatriot in a Wimbledon quarter-final.[/p][p]Pegula was not displeased with her own performance heading into the final Grand Slam of the season.[/p][p][b]"I don't think I played bad but you played a very high level, it was not fun to play against," [/b]she told Gauff during the trophy ceremony.[/p][p][b]"You have amazing momentum heading into the US Open."[/b][/p]