Sabalenka lands 'strike' in Cincinnati

The WTA Cincinnati has crowned its new queen, one who had never reigned on these courts before. Aryna Sabalenka adds a new WTA 1000 title to her record, the first of 2024 and on her favorite surface. The Belarusian will not only celebrate her second title of the year after the Australian Open, but will also return to the world number 2 spot after her performance in this tournament. Jessica Pegula was her victim in the final, whom she comfortably defeated 6-3 7-5, in a match she dominated from start to finish. Absolute firmness from a player who is accustomed to playing more and more finals, showcasing her best shots and solidness that propelled her to the heights of Cincinnati.

It had been a long time since they faced each other, but Sabalenka quickly figured out her opponent, being the clear dominator from start to finish. The match started with little pace, but the Belarusian quickly took on that aggressive role that characterizes her so much on the circuit. Pegula tried to respond to each of Aryna's powerful shots, but she couldn't escape the only break that decided the set in favor of a Sabalenka growing more and more comfortable and showing her claws whenever she had the chance. Going all out, with a few direct winners and accelerating the pace of the set, the Belarusian pressed at times before the American's resignation.

Sabalenka simply played marvelously, once again demonstrating that she was born to play on these big stages. That comfort, she combined it with tranquility and determination worthy of a player who never gave ground. Pegula couldn’t scrape anything against her rival's strong serving dominance, only losing four points on her serve. The Belarusian found the perfect balance and did not abandon that fighting spirit, closing a nearly perfect set in just 33 minutes.

Aryna dominates, but closes with suspense

The second set wasn't much different from the first, as the Belarusian 'tigress' left her opponent unsettled time and time again. Tension and apathy led her to make several mistakes that condemned her and couldn't be rectified. The American needed to wake up and motivate herself if she wanted to turn the score around. And at times, she succeeded, keeping her service games in check, but she had nothing to counter at return. Aryna kept doing her thing, doing everything right and deciphering a Pegula who couldn’t seem to rally against the dominance of the next world number 2.

However, the American still managed to equalize the match at 5-all when her opponent was serving for the title. Pegula capitalized on Sabalenka's unexpected doubts, but couldn't withstand a determined tigress striving to come out on top. Thus, she unleashed her most aggressive version, sought the lines, pressed and went for every point to serve again and crown herself, this time for real, in Cincinnati.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka pega el "zarpazo" en Cincinnati