It’s an all-American weekend in Cincinnati.
Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff are heading for the 2026 Cincinnati Open women’s final after knocking out two very different opponents Saturday.
Pegula delivered the biggest upset of the day, taking down defending champion and six-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek in a wild three-set battle, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.
The match lasted nearly three hours, with windy conditions and constant momentum swings making life difficult for both players.
Pegula finally broke Swiatek at 4-4 in the deciding set, then held serve to close out the match.
“Crazy match today,” Pegula said afterward.
The victory also gave Pegula her 300th tour-level win and snapped Swiatek’s 10-match winning streak.
Waiting for her in the final is Gauff.
The 2023 Cincinnati champion defeated Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek, 6-4, 6-1, ending the 20-year-old’s dream run.
Bejlek had already stunned world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and former Cincinnati champion Madison Keys on her way to the semifinals. But against Gauff, the American eventually took control and never looked back.
The result sets up the first all-American women’s singles final in Cincinnati since 1970.
And the Americans aren’t done.
Frances Tiafoe reached the men’s final after beating Brandon Nakashima, 7-5, 6-3, while France’s Arthur Fils defeated Flavio Cobolli, 6-3, 6-4.| BNN Integrated News
So Sunday’s Cincinnati finals will feature Gauff vs. Pegula on the women’s side and Tiafoe vs. Fils in the men’s draw.
With the US Open just around the corner, Cincinnati has turned into a major confidence boost for several players heading into the year’s final Grand Slam.
