Pegula Calls Gauff Tour's Best Mover After 1-Sided Cincinnati Final Loss

Q: Does an epic, high-stakes rematch await these two American tennis stars in New York?

Yes — a New York rematch is a realistic and compelling possibility, though far from guaranteed. The evidence points that way. Coco Gauff arrives at the US Open with major momentum after beating Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 for the Cincinnati title, her first of the season and her second career Cincinnati crown. Pegula, despite the straight-set loss, also looks like a serious contender after reaching two finals in her last three tournaments and beating Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati. Their head-to-head is effectively even, and both have shown they can make deep runs on hard courts. There is also meaningful precedent. When Gauff won Cincinnati in 2023, she went on to win the US Open. This year, Pegula again looks dangerous on home soil, with recent wins over top opponents and a game well suited to Flushing Meadows. Pegula herself called Gauff “a dangerous, confident Coco” heading into New York, while making clear that she believes her own level is high as well. What stops short of making a rematch likely is the field. Aryna Sabalenka, Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, Naomi Osaka and other contenders mean both Americans would have to survive seven rounds in a stacked draw. They also cannot meet in the final unless the seeding and draw place them in opposite halves. So the short answer is that the ingredients are there for an epic rematch — form, familiarity, and stakes — but the US Open is deep enough that it remains an enticing possibility rather than an expectation.

3 articles · Updated · Tennishead · Aug 24

Jessica Pegula said Coco Gauff is "the best mover on tour, by far" after losing a one-sided Cincinnati Open final, adding that Gauff's court coverage gave her almost no openings.
Pegula said she did not feel she played badly, but Gauff's defense, serve and return made longer rallies counterproductive because the 22-year-old "likes to run" and forces opponents to press.
Comparing Gauff with Iga Swiatek and Marta Kostyuk, Pegula said all three rank among the WTA's best movers, but Gauff's length and ability to defend from the corners let her cover the most court.
New York is next, and Pegula said a "dangerous, confident" Gauff will be hard to beat at the US Open even as Pegula arrives in form after reaching 2 finals in her last 3 events.