Sabalenka Powers Her Way To Cincinnati Open Title Victory

Aryna Sabalenka, Cincinnati Open
Aryna Sabalenka (photo: Kathryn Riley/Cincinnati Open)

CINCINNATI/WASHINGTON, August 20, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

Though familiar foes Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula were facing each other for the seventh time in a WTA Tour event at the Cincinnati Open Monday afternoon, it was just their first head-to-head meeting in a final.

The World No. 3 Sabalenka from Belarus made sure it was a memorable one. She stayed in the moment from first ball to last and powered her way past the sixth-ranked American Pegula, 6-3, 7-5, in an hour and 15 minutes on Center Court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.

It was the Belarusian’s fifth career win over Pegula in seven meetings and the second victory on a hard-court surface. Sabalenka has now collected 15 WTA Tour titles and the Cincinnati crown was her second in 2024, after winning the Australian Open. It puts her in a good frame of mind heading into next week’s US Open in New York, where she will be the second seed behind World No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland, whom she beat 6-3, 6-3 in Sunday’s semifinal round.

While this was the fifth WTA 1000 final between two WTA Top-10 opponents this season after Doha, Indian Wells, Madrid and Rome, the No. 3 seed Sabalenka took control of the Cincinnati Open final early against the sixth seed Pegula and never let up.

Sabalenka collected her sixth WTA 1000 title – and her first on a hard court since Doha in 2020 – without losing a set this week. Against Pegula, she fired 10 aces, dropped just three points on her first serve, hit 28 winners and converted three of five break points. Sabalenka outpointed her opponent 72-50. En route to the Cincinnati Open title, she collected victories over Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Elina Svitolina, No. 10 seed Liudmila Samsonova, top seed Swiatek and Pegula.

“Speeches are definitely not my superpower but I’ll try my best,” Sabalenka said during the trophy ceremony. “Thank you for a great match Jessica. I’m very happy to see you back at your top level. You did a really great job the last few weeks. A title and a final. That’s really an achievement. I want to congratulate you and your team on the incredible work you’ve done. As you said, I’m sure we’re gonna have many more battles in the future. Let’s just keep it up, right?”

The loss by Pegula ended her nine-match winning streak, which began earlier this month with her run to the National Bank Open title in Toronto. She was attempting to become the first American woman in more than 50 years to sweep titles in Canada and Cincinnati in the same season. After Pegula defeated Paula Badosa, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, in Sunday’s semifinals, she became just the third American woman in the Open Era after Rosie Casals and Serena Williams to make the finals of both events.

“Congrats to Aryna,” Pegula said. “Andrew [Krasny, the tournament announcer] said ‘Aryna’ and I thought he said ‘Serena.’ But it felt like Serena today with the way you were serving. I don’t know. I may have wanted Serena with the way you were serving today.”

Later, in an interview with Tennis Channel, Sabalenka added: “It was a really great day at the office. I had really great support from the crowd; it was a really great atmosphere. I’m just super happy with the level that I played in the final. To win this title is really important going into the US Open. I’m super happy with the result in Cincinnati.”

First-time partners, best friends Muhammad and Routliffe win doubles title

American Asia Muhammad and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are two of the best women’s doubles players on the WTA Tour. However, until this week, they had never played together as a team.

Pairing up for the first time, the No. 3 seeds Muhammad and Routliffe rallied to defeat another first-time team, unseeded Leylah Fernandez of Canada and Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan, 3-6, 6-1,10-8, to win the Cincinnati Open title. It was the first WTA 1000 doubles title for both players.

The 80-minute final was moved from Center Court to the Grandstand due to earlier rain delays, which pushed back the start of the night session at Lindner Family Tennis Center. The winners saved nine of 10 break points they faced and outpointed their opponents 59-53.

“We’re, like, best friends, so we’ve been wanting to play together for a while, and we got the chance to this week,” Routliffe, 29, said during the trophy presentation. “I’ve lost in a lot of finals this year, so I’m really glad she could carry me to win one of them!”

The 33-year-old Muhammad added: “You are my best friend, so it’s amazing to share the court with you. It was a really fun work week. Not everyone can say they get to work with their best friend.”

Routliffe, who is ranked World No. 1 in doubles, has now won seven WTA doubles titles, while the 24th-ranked Muhammad has won 11 WTA doubles titles.

By the numbers

This was the first women’s singles final at the Cincinnati Open between two WTA Top 10 opponents since Garbiñe Muguruza defeated Simona Halep in 2017.

“Quotable …”

“I played much better than I expected, honestly, especially on this surface. So, I’m happy with the result anyway, and already kind of focusing on what I need to do to feel even better in New York. And we’ll work on stuff for sure.”

— World No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland, during her post-match news conference Sunday, following her semifinal loss to Aryna Sabalenka.

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