Coco Gauff 'night and day' from player she was last year, prepares for US Open in winning fashion at Cincinnati Open - 'I was declining'

Coco Gauff said she is "night and day" compared to the player she was last year after winning the women's singles title at the Cincinnati Open on Sunday thanks to a straight-sets victory over fellow American Jessica Pegula.

Gauff won 6-2 6-4 to claim her second Cincinnati Open title, becoming just the third two-time winner of the WTA 1000 tournament alongside Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.

The 22-year-old might still be one of the youngest players on the tour, but she is one of the game's most famous faces, having broken through as a 15-year-old.

And speaking after her victory in Ohio, Gauff expressed her relief at being able to banish some bad habits she thought she had developed in 2025.

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"It was a long journey, but I'm happy. I've obviously got more years of tennis to play," the two-time Grand Slam winner told reporters.

"But I think last year I was just frustrated with my game, and I felt like I was declining. And it's not something any player wants to feel. You always want to feel like you're getting better or, at worst, just plateauing.

"So last year, I was in a weird predicament, made sudden decisions that most people probably wouldn't do before a Slam, but I think it's worth it. And I feel it's night and day the player I am from last year to now."

In the final against Pegula, Gauff never looked troubled, not trailing at any point.

She raced into a 5-0 lead in the opening set in just 30 minutes on court and easily converted to take an early lead.

The only hiccup Gauff experienced came when she was serving for the match, with Pegula able to break back.

But it proved to be a minor speed-bump, as she was able to break Pegula to love to seal the title in an hour and 14 minutes.

Gauff last won the Cincinnati Open in 2023, the same year she won her maiden Grand Slam at the US Open.

And with the major just round the corner, all eyes turn to Flushing Meadows with the world No. 4 one of the favourites to challenge for the title.

But despite the good omens, Gauff admitted that her victory in Cincinnati is not an "indicator that I'm going to do well in New York".

"I don't really take that into consideration, but I definitely think I'm going in knowing that I can figure out these matches," she said.

"It's going to be tough in New York, but just knowing the quality wins that I had this week, knowing that I'm able to figure it out even if I'm not playing my best, but also knowing that I can play the great tennis that I felt like I was playing this week.

"So just learning to be more aggressive in these points, and hopefully, I can use the experience here in New York."

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'I think no one's gonna talk now'

In the men's singles draw at the Cincinnati Open, Arthur Fils won his first ATP Masters 1000 title, beating Frances Tiafoe 6-3 1-6 6-0 in Sunday's final.

The 22-year-old ended France's 12-year wait for a Masters 1000 win, also becoming second man born in 2004 or later to win a Masters 1000 title. Fils said it felt "very good" to finally have a trophy to his name.

"It's been a tough year last year. Even though this year as well, it was not easy with French Open and with a couple of injuries that kept me away from the courts," he told reporters.

"But when you get injured, you just think about coming back and for these moments. It feels very good to have a trophy next to me, especially Masters 1000, never won one before. So that's why I played tennis."

Highlights: Fils bagels Tiafoe in decider to win maiden ATP Masters 1000 title

Video credit: SNTV

Following his victory, Fils participated in the winning tradition of signing the lens of a TV camera to celebrate his victory.

But instead of just his signature, the Frenchman wrote: "Who's gonna talk now".

He explained afterwards that this was his way of answering some of his critics.

"Because people were talking very bad. In France, it's very easy sometimes to … criticise," he said.

"I didn't play in the French Open, I lost early in Washington, and then, people think that I'm done and I don't know how to play tennis.

"But here we are. I got the title, and I think no one's gonna talk now."

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