Coco Gauff has downplayed the significance of her latest victory on the Tour heading into the US Open.

The world No.4 won her first title of 2026 at the Cincinnati Open on Sunday by defeating compatriot Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4. Gauff is the third woman in the Open Era to have won the tournament on multiple occasions after Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams. Her first triumph at the tournament was in 2023.

Gauff’s latest performance saw her break Pegula five times and win 61% of her service points. She has now drawn level with Pegula in their head-to-head at 5-5. Throughout this year’s tournament, the 22-year-old dropped one set in six matches played. A big improvement compared to 12 months ago when she exited the draw by hitting 16 double faults and 62 unforced errors during her quarter-final loss.

“I think it was a long journey, but I’m happy,” Gauff reflected during her press conference.

“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.

“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.

“I feel it’s night and day, the player I am from last year to now.”

The first time Gauff was victorious in Cincinnati, she went on to win her maiden Grand Slam at the US Open that same season. Since then, her only other major triumph was at the French Open last year.

Whilst she is hoping for history to repeat itself, Gauff believes her latest title triumph has no impact on her chances heading into the US Open, which will get underway this Sunday. She will be making her eighth main draw appearance.

“I don’t think that this is an indicator that I’m going to do well in New York or anything like that,” she said.

“I don’t really take that into consideration.

“But knowing the quality wins that I had (in Cincinnati), knowing that I’m able to figure it out even if I’m not playing my best. Also knowing that I can play the great tennis I felt I was playing this week and learning to be more aggressive in these points. Hopefully I can use the experience here in New York.”

As for her current form, Gauff says her hard work off the court is finally starting to pay off.

“I feel like over the course of the last two tournaments, starting after the French Open, I feel like I’ve been playing the tennis that I’ve been wanting to play, and I think as the results are now coming,” she said.

Gauff heads into the US Open with a 4-5 head-to-head record against top 10 players this season. She will be seeded fourth in this year’s draw.