Gauff vs Pegula: First All-American Cincy Final in 56 Years

Gauff vs Pegula is the first all-American Cincinnati women's final in 56 years. Jessica Pegula beat Iga Swiatek 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. Coco Gauff beat Sara Bejlek 6-4, 6-1. ESPN, ABC News, and Sky Sports all filed the 56-year marker. The last time two American women played for this title was 1970, when Rosie Casals beat Nancy Richey. Sunday they do it again.

Pegula needed almost three hours. Gauff needed 76 minutes. That is the rest gap. Pegula still leads the head-to-head 5-4. Gauff won the most recent meeting, a Wimbledon quarterfinal, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, Tennis Majors and the BBC both had it. "I'm always rooting for American tennis," Pegula said, per the Associated Press. "I like playing someone that I get along with and have a lot of respect for, like Coco."

Gauff vs Pegula: 5-4 series, Gauff took Wimbledon

Pegula won four of their first five. Gauff has won three of the last four, including Wuhan last fall, their only previous final. The WTA noted Gauff has beaten Pegula four times in nine meetings. Sunday is No. 10. Pegula is the world No. 3. Gauff is No. 4. They are the two highest-ranked American women. Pegula's 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 over Swiatek was her tour-leading 45th win of 2026 and the 300th of her career, ESPN and ABC reported. She trailed 3-1 in the third and won five of the last six games.

Gauff's 6-4, 6-1 over Bejlek was six breaks from seven chances and 60-38 in points, Tennis Majors wrote. She is in her first Cincinnati final since she won it in 2023. Pegula's best finish here was the 2024 final, a loss to Aryna Sabalenka. Sky Sports had Pegula calling the Swiatek match "really tough" and "awesome" to reach another 1000 final. Gauff told the WTA she is "really confident" in her game and is not putting extra weight on the trophy.

Sunday in Mason, and what 56 years actually means

Casals beat Richey in 1970. That is the whole list of all-American Cincinnati women's finals until Sunday. Sky Sports and the WTA both used that line. The men's final is Frances Tiafoe vs Arthur Fils, so three Americans are in the two title matches. Gauff joked about the men catching up, Tennis Majors reported. Jessica Pegula's Cincinnati week already survived Amanda Anisimova in a third-set tiebreak. Iga Swiatek's title defense ended in that three-setter. Coco Gauff's semifinal was the short one.

Pegula has the ranking and the series lead. Gauff has the shorter Saturday, the 2023 title, and the last H2H. Hard courts. No third-set history required until someone blinks. Cincinnati has waited 56 years for this final. It gets it Sunday night.

Gauff vs Pegula FAQ

When is the Gauff vs Pegula Cincinnati final? Sunday. ESPN, ABC, and Sky Sports said it is the first all-American Cincinnati women's final in 56 years, since Rosie Casals beat Nancy Richey in 1970.

Who leads the Gauff vs Pegula head-to-head? Pegula leads 5-4, Tennis Majors and the WTA reported. Gauff won their most recent match at Wimbledon this summer, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

How did they reach the final? Pegula beat Iga Swiatek 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. Gauff beat Sara Bejlek 6-4, 6-1 in 76 minutes. ESPN, Sky Sports, and Tennis Majors all had those scores.