Coco Gauff Wins Big in Cincinnati: Prize Money and Ranking Points Revealed

Coco Gauff strengthened her position in the WTA rankings and earned more than $1 million in prize money after defeating Jessica Pegula in the Cincinnati Open final on Sunday.

The fourth seed produced a dominant performance to beat Pegula 6-2, 6-4 in 75 minutes, securing her second Cincinnati Open title and her first trophy of the 2026 season.

The all-American final was the first Cincinnati title clash between two US players since 1970, but Gauff ensured there was little doubt about the outcome as she raced to a 5-0 lead in the opening set.

Pegula managed to break back and get on the scoreboard, but Gauff immediately responded with another break to take the set 6-2.

The 22-year-old continued to control proceedings in the second set, breaking early to establish the advantage. Pegula fought back to level the set at 4-4, but Gauff secured another break in the final game to close out the victory.

The title is the 12th of Gauff's career and comes at an important stage of her preparation for the US Open.

How many ranking points did Coco Gauff earn?

A WTA 1000 title is worth 1,000 ranking points, but Gauff did not receive the full amount because of the WTA's rolling 52-week ranking system.

Gauff had 215 points to defend from her quarter-final appearance at the 2025 Cincinnati Open. As a result, she added 785 points to her ranking tally after winning the tournament.

The points haul keeps Gauff at No. 4 in the WTA rankings, although she has significantly closed the gap to third-placed Pegula.

Gauff is now just 561 points behind her compatriot.

Pegula, meanwhile, lost 65 points after failing to match her previous year's result at the tournament but earned 650 points for reaching the final. She therefore finished the tournament with a net gain of 585 points.

How much prize money did Coco Gauff earn?

Gauff's Cincinnati Open title earned her a prize cheque of $1,085,220.

That takes her total prize money for the 2026 season to $5,521,776.

The victory also lifts Gauff's career prize money to another significant milestone as she continues to establish herself among the leading earners on the WTA Tour.

The American entered Cincinnati having struggled at the tournament last year, when she was eliminated in the quarter-finals. She subsequently exited the US Open in the fourth round.

Her latest title gives her considerable momentum heading into the final Grand Slam of the season.

How much prize money did Jessica Pegula earn?

Pegula received $564,920 for reaching the Cincinnati Open final.

The runner-up finish takes her 2026 prize money total to $4,283,469, while her career earnings have now reached $26,151,104.

Despite falling short against Gauff, Pegula's run to the final provided another boost ahead of the US Open after she had also finished runner-up at the Washington DC Open.

The result also leaves the American firmly ahead of Gauff in the rankings, although the gap has been reduced considerably following Gauff's title run.

Coco Gauff sends strong US Open warning

Gauff's Cincinnati triumph gives her a timely confidence boost before the US Open, where she will be looking to improve on last year's fourth-round exit.

She dropped the opening set of her Cincinnati campaign against Liudmila Samsonova but responded by winning 12 consecutive sets on her way to the title.

Gauff, however, played down suggestions that the Cincinnati title automatically makes her a favourite for success in New York.

"I don't think that this is an indicator that I'm going to do well in New York," Gauff said after the final. "Just knowing the quality ones that I had this week, hopefully I can use that experience."

For Pegula, the defeat ends a strong Cincinnati campaign but leaves her with valuable ranking points and prize money heading into the final Grand Slam of the season.