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Cincinnati Open champions Coco Gauff and Arthur Fils closed the 2026 tournament with major singles victories in Mason, Ohio.
The Cincinnati Open ended Sunday with Gauff defeating Jessica Pegula and Fils beating Frances Tiafoe in two historic finals.
Cincinnati Open champions deliver contrasting victories
Coco Gauff captured her second Cincinnati Open women’s singles title Sunday by defeating fellow American Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4. The victory gave Gauff her first title of the 2026 season and added another Cincinnati championship to her growing résumé.
The official Cincinnati Open confirmed Gauff as the 2026 women’s singles champion. The tournament also noted that her first Cincinnati title came in 2023, when she later won her first Grand Slam at the U.S. Open.
Gauff entered Sunday’s final ranked No. 4, while Pegula held the No. 3 ranking. The matchup created the first all-American women’s singles final at the Cincinnati Open since 1970.
Gauff took control early and built a 5-0 advantage in the opening set. Pegula managed to get on the scoreboard and compete for stretches, but Gauff closed the set 6-2.
The second set remained more competitive. Pegula attempted to extend rallies and pressure Gauff’s serve, but Gauff maintained enough control to finish the match in straight sets.
According to Reuters, Gauff’s victory marked her 12th career singles title. The result also strengthened her position heading into the U.S. Open, which begins next week.
Cincinnati Open title gives Gauff momentum
The Cincinnati Open victory gives Gauff an important boost before the final Grand Slam tournament of the season.
Gauff had not won a title earlier in 2026 despite reaching several deep stages of tournaments. The Cincinnati championship therefore represents her first tournament victory of the year.
The timing also carries added significance because Cincinnati serves as one of the final major events before the U.S. Open. Players use the hard-court tournament to sharpen their games before the year’s final Grand Slam.
Gauff now enters New York with a recent title and another strong performance against a top-ranked American opponent.
Her victory also continues a notable Cincinnati connection. Gauff won the tournament in 2023 before winning the U.S. Open several weeks later.
The Cincinnati Open’s official history lists Gauff among the tournament’s recent women’s singles champions.
For Cincinnati fans, the result provides another major moment from a tournament that has become one of the region’s biggest annual sporting events.
The Cincinnati Exchange previously reported on the tournament’s expanded 2026 format and its return to the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason. That coverage outlined the tournament’s importance as an ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 event before the U.S. Open.
Cincinnati Open champions include first-time Masters winner
Arthur Fils produced the other major championship story by defeating Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 in the men’s final.
The victory gave Fils his first ATP Masters 1000 championship. The 22-year-old Frenchman entered the tournament as the No. 21 seed and completed his run with a dominant performance in the deciding set.
Fils controlled the opening set with aggressive baseline play and strong serving. Tiafoe responded in the second set and leveled the match after winning it 6-1.
The momentum shifted dramatically in the third set. Fils regained control and swept the deciding set 6-0 to secure the biggest title of his career.
The official Cincinnati Open reported that Fils finished with 11 aces and only one double fault. He also converted four of eight break-point opportunities.
The result carries additional significance for French tennis. Fils became the youngest Frenchman to win a Masters 1000 title.
He also became the first French men’s singles champion in Cincinnati since Guy Forget won the tournament in 1991, according to the Cincinnati Open.
Fils will rise to a career-high No. 11 in the ATP rankings following his Cincinnati victory.
Cincinnati Open final makes tennis history
The men’s final created a separate piece of tennis history.
Fils and Tiafoe became the first two Black players to meet in an ATP Masters 1000 men’s singles final. ESPN and other outlets reported the milestone following Fils’ victory.
The match also represented a major comeback moment for Fils after injuries interrupted his development.
The Cincinnati Open reported that Fils missed nearly eight months in 2025 because of a back injury. His recovery limited his competition schedule and forced him to work his way back into form.
Fils said the title followed extensive training and sacrifice during his recovery. His Cincinnati victory now gives him another major achievement before the U.S. Open.
His performance also continued a strong season in three-set matches. Tennis Majors reported that Fils finished the Cincinnati tournament 10-0 in three-set matches during the 2026 season.
Tiafoe reached the Cincinnati final for the second time in three years. He previously reached the championship match in 2024 before losing to Jannik Sinner.
The American was seeking his first Masters 1000 championship but fell short against Fils.
Cincinnati Open sets stage for U.S. Open
The Cincinnati Open now closes with two champions heading toward New York with significant momentum.
Gauff’s second Cincinnati title gives her a successful final tournament before the U.S. Open. Fils enters the Grand Slam after winning the biggest title of his career.
The tournament also produced strong American storylines throughout the final rounds. Gauff and Pegula created the first all-American women’s final in 56 years, while Tiafoe became part of a historic men’s championship match.
The Cincinnati Open ran from Aug. 8 through Aug. 23 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. The official tournament site lists Gauff and Fils as the 2026 singles champions.
The tournament remains one of the most important events on the North American hard-court calendar. Its position immediately before the U.S. Open gives players a final opportunity to compete against elite opposition before the year’s last Grand Slam.
The event also brings significant attention to Mason and the broader Cincinnati region. The Cincinnati Exchange has previously examined how major sporting events contribute to tourism, restaurants, hotels and other local businesses.
Read: Cincinnati’s sports economic impact
The 2026 tournament delivered a particularly strong finish. Gauff reclaimed the women’s trophy, while Fils secured his first Masters 1000 crown.
Both champions now turn their attention to the U.S. Open. Gauff will attempt to build on her Cincinnati form, while Fils will enter New York as a newly crowned Masters 1000 champion and a rising force on the ATP Tour.
For Cincinnati, the tournament ends with two new chapters added to its long tennis history. Gauff’s second title reinforces her status as one of the leading American players, while Fils’ breakthrough establishes him as another player to watch on the international stage.
FAQs
Who won the 2026 Cincinnati Open women’s title?
Coco Gauff defeated Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 in the women’s singles final. It was Gauff’s second Cincinnati Open championship.
Who won the men’s Cincinnati Open title?
Arthur Fils defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0. The victory gave Fils his first ATP Masters 1000 title.
Was the Cincinnati Open women’s final historic?
Yes. Gauff and Pegula played the tournament’s first all-American women’s singles final in 56 years.
What comes next for Gauff and Fils?
Both champions now turn their attention to the U.S. Open. Gauff enters after winning her first title of the 2026 season, while Fils arrives after securing the biggest title of his career.
