Aug 22, 2026, 11:38 PM ET<\/p>\n
MASON, Ohio — Jessica Pegula<\/a> beat defending champion Iga Swiatek<\/a> and Coco Gauff<\/a> defeated Sara Bejlek<\/a> on Saturday to set up the first all-American women’s final at the Cincinnati Open in 56 years.<\/p>\n Pegula rallied from down a break in the third set to get past Swiatek 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 for her tour-leading 45th win this year. It was the 300th tour-level victory of Pegula’s career, and it snapped Swiatek’s 10-match winning streak.<\/p>\n Pegula’s best finish in Cincinnati came in 2024, when she lost to Aryna Sabalenka<\/a> in the final.<\/p>\n Gauff, the 2023 champion, beat Bejlek 6-4, 6-1. The 20-year-old Czech upset top seed Aryna Sabalenka<\/a> and Madison Keys<\/a> en route to the semis.<\/p>\n The last time two American women played in the Cincinnati final was in 1970, when Rosie Casals beat Nancy Richey.<\/p>\n “I’m always rooting for American tennis,” Pegula said. “I like to play someone that I get along with and have a lot of respect for, like Coco. I didn’t realize it was so long since we’ve had a double American final. The crowd can just go out there and enjoy the match.”<\/p>\n Tiafoe and Fils to meet in men’s final <\/p>\n On the men’s side, Frances Tiafoe<\/a> defeated fellow American Brandon Nakashima<\/a> 7-5, 6-3 to set up a final against Arthur Fils<\/a> of France.<\/p>\n It will be the first time two Black players have met in an ATP Masters 1000 final.<\/p>\n Sunday’s winner will be the third Black man to win a Masters 1000 title, joining Ben Shelton<\/a>, who won Canada twice, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga<\/a>, who won Paris in 2008 and Canada in 2014.<\/p>\n “It’s awesome for, you know, for a bunch of kids looking up to us and want to be in our position,” Tiafoe said. “That’s what it’s about. It’s always nice to be a part of history. Hopefully, we can have more big finals like this having people of color, and I’m super pumped about it.”<\/p>\n Tiafoe reached the 2024 final in Cincinnati, losing to Jannik Sinner<\/a> in three sets.<\/p>\n