Aryna Sabalenka utilized her potent serve to defeat American Jessica Pegula 6-3, 7-5 and clinch the Cincinnati Open on Monday, signaling her readiness for the final major of the year in New York. The two-time Australian Open champion conceded just nine points on her serve and delivered 10 aces, overcoming slight nerves towards the end of the second set in a generally assured display to secure her sixth WTA 1000 title. Pegula, who had maintained her form by defending her title in Toronto earlier this month, faltered with her serve, committing five double faults, which ended her nine-match winning streak. Sabalenka seized the advantage in the fourth game when Pegula hit a forehand into the net, and she capitalized on this momentum with a flawless hold in the fifth game, sealing the first set with an unreturnable serve. She unleashed a series of powerful forehands to break Pegula again in the first game of the second set, but aided her opponent to a solitary break point with a double fault and two unforced errors in the tenth game. However, Sabalenka immediately broke back and celebrated with the crowd after forcing an error on match point. She will ascend to the number two ranking before the US Open, which commences next week. Sabalenka's dominant performance in Cincinnati, where she did not drop a set, including a victory over world number one Iga Swiatek, has solidified her status as a top contender at Flushing Meadows, despite a shoulder injury that sidelined her from Wimbledon earlier this year. She aims for redemption in New York after finishing as the runner-up last year.
"I want to express my gratitude to my team – we've faced numerous challenges but remained committed to our work and self-improvement, and I'm truly grateful for your support," Sabalenka remarked during her on-court speech. Pegula had inadvertently referred to Sabalenka as "Serena" during an on-court interview following her semifinal, and she playfully acknowledged the mix-up with the 23-time Grand Slam champion on Monday.
"It seemed like facing Serena (Williams) today given how you were serving," Pegula said during the trophy ceremony. "I might have preferred Serena over Aryna."
