MASON, Ohio — Aryna Sabalenka gained her first title for the reason that Australian Open in January, beating Jessica Pegula 6-3, 7-5 within the Cincinnati Open on Monday.
Sabalenka, who moved up a spot to No. 2 within the rankings earlier than the match, did not lose a set en path to her fifteenth WTA title. She had by no means gotten previous the semifinals at Cincinnati, dropping 3 times in that spherical.
Sabalenka, 26, dropped solely 9 factors on serve and hit 10 aces as she overcame some jitters late within the second set in an in any other case assured efficiency to choose up her sixth WTA 1000 title.
Pegula had seemed to be in good type after she retained her title in Toronto earlier this month however she struggled together with her serve, with 5 double faults.
Sabalenka acquired the break within the fourth sport after Pegula whacked a forehand into the web and the Belarusian constructed on the momentum with a maintain to like within the fifth, closing out the primary set with an unreturnable serve.
She despatched over a barrage of highly effective forehands to get one other break within the opening sport of the second set however helped Pegula to get her lone break level with a double fault and a pair of unforced errors within the tenth sport.
Sabalenka broke again instantly, nonetheless, and blew kisses to the gang after she compelled her opponent into an error on match level.
The sixth-ranked Pegula had a difficult highway to the ultimate. After defending her title at Toronto, the American performed two matches on Friday due to weather-related postponements and had three matches go three units. Her time on the court docket exceeded Sabalenka’s by greater than two hours getting into the ultimate.
Sabalenka can now be thought of a favourite on the US Open, which begins on Aug. 26 in New York. The Belarusian missed Wimbledon with a shoulder harm, then returned to the tour at Washington two weeks in the past.
The Related Press and Reuters contributed to this story.
