Cincinnati Masters
Arthur Fils won his first Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati, beating Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 to become the first French champion at this level since Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Toronto in 2014, and the youngest France has produced. Coco Gauff took the women’s title 6-2, 6-4 against Jessica Pegula in the first all-American final here since 1970. Aryna Sabalenka kept the world No. 1 ranking despite losing in the last 16.
The fortnight is covered in full in our finals report, semi-finals and quarter-finals, with the field and the draw in the tournament preview. Attention now turns to the US Open, which begins in New York on 30 August.
The Champions
| Draw | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men (ATP 1000) | Arthur Fils (21) | Frances Tiafoe (17) | 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 |
| Women (WTA 1000) | Coco Gauff (4) | Jessica Pegula (3) | 6-2, 6-4 |
Fils Ends a 12-Year Wait for France
Fils was the cleaner player for two of the three sets and overwhelming in the decider. He dropped just three points behind his own serve in the opening set, lost the second as his error count climbed, and then took the third without conceding a game after Tiafoe had treatment during the break.
It is the biggest title of his career, his fifth on tour and his second of 2026 after Barcelona. At 22 he becomes the youngest French Masters 1000 champion, and the first from France since Tsonga twelve years ago. He goes into the US Open ranked No. 21, with Tiafoe No. 23, and the points from this title will lift both.
Both men also moved closer to a first appearance at the ATP Finals, with Flavio Cobolli and Daniil Medvedev among those still ahead of them in the Race to Turin.
It was a fortnight defined by absence at the top. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner both withdrew injured before a ball was struck, Novak Djokovic lost his opening match to a qualifier, and top seed Alexander Zverev went out in the last 16 from match point up. The draw that emerged produced a first-time champion, which is a fair reflection of it.
Gauff Wins a Second Cincinnati Title
Gauff was the fresher of the two finalists and it showed. Pegula had come through three consecutive three-setters, against Sorana Cîrstea, Amanda Anisimova and then defending champion Iga Świątek, and could not hold that level for a fourth. Gauff broke early in both sets and closed it out 6-2, 6-4 for her twelfth WTA singles title and her second in Mason after 2023.
It was the first all-American women’s final at this tournament in 56 years. Gauff earned $1,085,200, Pegula $564,920.
The ranking picture did not change at the top. Sabalenka held on to world No. 1 despite a last-16 exit to Sara Bejlek, because Elena Rybakina, the only player who could have overtaken her, retired hurt in the quarter-finals. Pegula is up to No. 3 and Gauff to No. 4. Świątek is the biggest faller, down three places to No. 8 having defended a title and lost in the last four, and she goes to New York as the eighth seed.
Bejlek Was the Story of the Week
The run that will be remembered longest belonged to a player who did not reach the final. Sara Bejlek, 20 years old, unseeded and ranked outside the top 30, beat Karolína Plíšková, Barbora Krejčíková, 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, world No. 1 Sabalenka and 20th seed Madison Keys before Gauff stopped her in the semi-finals. Three of those five are Grand Slam champions. It took her to a career high and gave the fortnight its defining upset.
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More Cincinnati Open Coverage
Full cluster: Cincinnati Open hub · Finals · Semi-finals · Quarter-finals · Round of 16 · Round of 32 · Round of 64 · Betting tips · Prize money · Past champions
Next up: US Open 2026 hub · US Open preview · US Open outright tips · ATP rankings · WTA rankings
Every event we cover is in the tournaments index, and the dates are in the 2026 tennis calendar.