Coco Gauff Reveals How She Dealt with Outside Noise During Trophyless Campaigns After Cincinnati Win

Coco Gauff finally ended her trophy drought. In her home WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati on Sunday (August 23), the 22-year-old defeated countrywoman Jessica Pegula in straight sets in the final.

Gauff, who has now improved her head-to-head record over Pegula to 5-5, lifted her fourth WTA 1000 title and her first since the 2025 Wuhan Open. Before the Cincinnati Open, Gauff had played two finals, at the Miami Open and the Italian Open, losing both to Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina, respectively.

During those trophyless months, Gauff had to deal with a lot of outside noise. But she did not let the criticism overwhelm her. She said players do deal with ups and downs in a season, citing the examples of Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka.

Honestly, I just take it and eat it because I’m like, ‘Okay, whatever.’ It’s like our season is from January to November, there’s been players who’ve played incredible throughout the whole season, like Iga, for example, and Aryna. And now maybe they – it’s normal for someone to reach a tough moment. No one’s going to be great all 10, whatever, 15 years of their career. It’s just literally impossible.

Coco Gauff said at the press conference

Sabalenka started the season in an emphatic fashion as she first clinched the Brisbane International, then lost the Australian Open final to Elena Rybakina. Then after skipping the two WTA 1000s on the Middle East Swing, she completed the Sunshine Double.

But since her win over Gauff in Miami, the four-time Grand Slam singles champion has made just one semifinal (at the Berlin Open). She played both the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open, losing in the fourth rounds of both events.

She will be entering the US Open as the defending champion. Sabalenka, who lost to Gauff in the 2023 US Open final, beat Pegula and Amanda Anisimova in the finals in the previous two seasons.

There’s going to be down months and down tournaments, and the most important part for me that I’ve learned is just to focus on me and continuing to get better, and, like with everything, hard work doesn’t lie, and you know the results will come. And, yeah, that’s the thing I’ve learned, just to trust the process.

Coco Gauff added

Swiatek ended her title drought at the Canadian Open by defeating Rybakina. It was her first title since the 2025 Korea Open.

Coco Gauff reveals she was in tears after her defeat in last year’s Cincinnati Open

It was in Cincinnati back in 2023 that Coco Gauff reached her career’s first WTA 1000 final and ended it in her favor by defeating this year’s Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova. But last year, her run ended in the quarterfinals at the hands of eventual runner-up Jasmine Paolini, leaving the World No.4 in tears.

I’d like to thank God for just bringing me through these tough periods. Last year I was literally in the parking lot, like, in tears. It’s a big difference what a year can make. So I thank Him for pulling me through.

Coco Gauff said during the trophy presentation after her Cincinnati win

She now has seven Big Titles to her name. Gauff will next be chasing her second US Open title. The last time she won a Major was at the 2025 French Open by defeating Aryna Sabalenka. Last year in the New York Slam, Gauff’s campaign ended in the fourth round.

Apart from the 2023 US Open and the 2025 French Open, Gauff also played the final of the 2022 French Open, losing the match to four-time Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek.

Also read: Stefanos Tsitsipas Redefines His Career Path with a Fresh Long-Term Perspective: “I am a Night Owl”