CINCINNATI OPEN: FILS CLAIMS BREAKTHROUGH MASTERS CROWN, GAUFF RULES CINCINNATI AGAIN

MASON, Ohio — Championship Sunday at the Cincinnati Open belonged to Arthur Fils and Coco Gauff. Fils rebounded from a disastrous second set to overwhelm Frances Tiafoe in the men’s decider and capture the biggest title of his career, while Gauff dominated fellow American Jessica Pegula to become a two-time Cincinnati champion. The results provided both winners with a major confidence boost with the U.S. Open looming. (Reuters)

MEN’S SINGLES — FINAL

FILS BLANKS TIAFOE IN DECIDING SET TO CAPTURE FIRST MASTERS 1000 TITLE

Arthur Fils def. Frances Tiafoe, 6-3, 1-6, 6-0

MASON, Ohio — Arthur Fils produced a remarkable turnaround Sunday, shaking off a lopsided second set to defeat Frances Tiafoe and claim his first ATP Masters 1000 championship.

Fils established himself early, using his explosive groundstrokes and athleticism to take the opening set 6-3. Tiafoe responded emphatically. Feeding off the home crowd, the American seized control of the second set and raced through it 6-1, seemingly grabbing all the momentum heading into the decider.

Then Fils flipped the match again.

The 22-year-old Frenchman completely overwhelmed Tiafoe in the third set, breaking repeatedly and refusing to surrender a game as he completed the championship with a stunning 6-0 final set. Fils converted four of eight break-point opportunities during the match. (ATP Tour)

The victory represented a breakthrough moment for Fils, who had never previously won a Masters 1000 tournament. It also ended a lengthy drought for French men’s tennis: Fils became the first Frenchman in 12 years to win an ATP Masters 1000 singles title. (ATP Tour)

The championship was particularly meaningful after Fils endured significant injury problems that interrupted his rise. Now, he heads toward the U.S. Open with the biggest trophy of his career and further evidence that he can challenge the game’s elite on the biggest stages.

Star of the Match: Arthur Fils — after losing the second set 6-1, Fils responded by winning every game of the deciding set to secure his first Masters 1000 championship.

WOMEN’S SINGLES — FINAL

GAUFF DOMINATES PEGULA TO WIN SECOND CINCINNATI CROWN

Coco Gauff def. Jessica Pegula, 6-2, 6-4

MASON, Ohio — Coco Gauff capped an impressive week in Cincinnati with another commanding performance, defeating fellow American Jessica Pegula in straight sets to capture her second Cincinnati Open championship.

Gauff wasted little time establishing control in the first all-American women’s Cincinnati final since 1970. The 22-year-old raced to a 5-0 advantage in the opening set, using her speed, defense and increasingly aggressive forehand to prevent Pegula from finding a comfortable rhythm. Pegula avoided the bagel, but Gauff comfortably finished the set 6-2. (Reuters)

Pegula offered considerably more resistance in the second. The world No. 3 attempted to shorten points and redirect Gauff’s pace, but Gauff remained composed whenever the set tightened. She eventually found the decisive break and completed the championship 6-4.

The victory made Gauff one of only three women in the Open Era to win Cincinnati at least twice, joining Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka. Gauff previously won the tournament in 2023. (Women’s Tennis Association)

It was also Gauff’s first singles championship of the 2026 season and the 12th singles title of her career. Perhaps even more encouraging was the manner in which she won it: Gauff dropped only one set during the tournament and displayed the aggressive, controlled tennis that has made her one of the world’s premier hard-court players. (The Guardian)

With the U.S. Open beginning soon, Gauff leaves Cincinnati carrying both a trophy and considerable momentum into the final Grand Slam of the season.

Star of the Match: Coco Gauff — raced to a 5-0 opening-set advantage and never allowed Pegula to turn the championship match around.

AUGUST 23 RESULTS AT A GLANCE

Men’s Final

Arthur Fils def. Frances Tiafoe — 6-3, 1-6, 6-0

Women’s Final

Coco Gauff def. Jessica Pegula — 6-2, 6-4

CINCINNATI’S NEW CHAMPIONS

For Arthur Fils, Cincinnati represents a career-changing breakthrough. His first Masters 1000 trophy came in emphatic fashion, with the Frenchman winning six consecutive games in the deciding set after Tiafoe had appeared to seize control of the match. Fils converted four of eight break points and became France’s first Masters 1000 champion in 12 years. (ATP Tour)

For Coco Gauff, the championship added another significant trophy to an already impressive résumé. Her second Cincinnati crown placed her alongside Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka as the only multiple women’s champions at the tournament in the Open Era. (Women’s Tennis Association)

Sunday also completed a Cincinnati tournament marked by strong American performances. Tiafoe reached his second Cincinnati final after finishing runner-up in 2024, while Pegula joined Gauff in the tournament’s first all-American women’s championship match in 56 years. (Women’s Tennis Association)

But when the final balls were struck, the trophies belonged to Arthur Fils and Coco Gauff — two champions leaving Cincinnati with their stock rising just before the tennis world’s attention shifts to New York and the U.S. Open.

The official ATP Cincinnati results confirm Fils’ 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 victory, while the WTA Cincinnati Open page lists Gauff as the 2026 women’s champion and Pegula as the finalist.