Coco Gauff triumphed over Jessica Pegula in a blockbuster final at the 2026 Cincinnati Open to clinch her first title of the season. Following the match, both players came under scrutiny for checking their phones, prompting Gauff to offer a firm response to the criticism surrounding the gesture.
Coco Gauff Responds to Criticism Over Cincinnati Open Phone Usage
Gauff produced a dominant display in her showdown against Pegula, securing a 6-2, 6-4 victory to lift the Cincinnati Open trophy for the second time in her career. After celebrating her victory, the 22-year-old reached for her phone to connect with her family, who were unable to witness her triumph in person.
However, an X user criticized both players for immediately jumping on their phones instead of taking in the moment. Gauff pushed back against the criticism with a sarcastic response, pointing out that she was simply sharing the experience with her family over a video call.
“Kinda hate how after the match the players immediately just bring their phones out… like omg live a little,” the user posted.
“God forbid a girl facetimes her family to share the moment with them,” Gauff responded.
— Carolina 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 (@kroliizz) August 25, 2026
Gauff had explained during her victory speech that she appreciated the opportunity to see her parents, her brothers, and her grandmother’s elation at her victory over FaceTime rather than just receiving a congratulatory message. She also extended her gratitude to her loved ones for cheering her on from afar.
“And thank you to my parents back at home, my brothers, grandparents, all the family and friends that have been cheering for me, praying for me. I FaceTimed them right there on the bench, so it was good to see their faces and them smile. Usually I just get a good job text, so it was nice to get a little bit more than that,” Gauff said.
Coco Gauff’s screenshot of her group call with her family after she won the Cincinnati title. 🥰❤️ pic.twitter.com/FNyl4thiNb
— LaWanda (@lawanda50) August 24, 2026
Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula now head into the US Open as the leading contenders to produce a home champion in New York. Both players have enjoyed memorable runs at the prestigious event, with Gauff winning her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open and Jessica Pegula falling just short of the feat in the 2024 final.
