Pegula 7-5, 4-6, 6-4; Gauff 6-4, 6-1 reach Cincinnati final

Jessica Pegula defeated Iga Swiatek 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, while Coco Gauff beat Sara Bejlek 6-4, 6-1 to set up the Cincinnati Masters final. Pegula survived a three-set contest before Gauff advanced in a much shorter semi-final.

Pegula recovered after losing the second set and also had to come from 3-1 behind in the decider. The match remained level at 4-4 in the final set until Swiatek conceded a break with a double fault. Pegula then held on to complete the win.

The conditions added to the difficulty for both players, with strong wind affecting their ball tosses and serving. Pegula said she focused on staying composed and playing with courage as she dealt with the pressure of facing one of the leading players in the draw.

Gauff took control against the unseeded Bejlek by moving 4-1 ahead in the opening set. Bejlek responded to level the score at 4-4, but Gauff regained command and closed out the set before dropping only one game in the second.

The semi-final lasted one hour and 16 minutes and was Gauff’s first match against the 20-year-old Czech player. Gauff said maintaining concentration on each point helped her manage the balance between attacking and avoiding unnecessary errors.

The final will be the 10th meeting between Pegula and Gauff. Pegula leads their head-to-head record 5-4, while Gauff has now reached her third WTA Tour final of 2026.