Image source: Instagram/@arynasabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka’s powerful serve led her to a commanding victory over American Jessica Pegula, winning the Cincinnati Open 6-3, 7-5. This victory sends a strong message ahead of the upcoming US Open, where Sabalenka is now considered a top contender.
The Belarusian tennis star, a two-time Australian Open champion, displayed her prowess by dropping only nine points on serve and hitting 10 aces. Despite a few late jitters in the second set, Aryna Sabalenka’s confident performance secured her sixth WTA 1000 title. She will move up to number two in the rankings, right in time for the year’s final major in New York.
Pegula, who had been in excellent form after retaining her title in Toronto earlier this month, struggled with her serve throughout the match. She hit five double faults, which ultimately ended her nine-match unbeaten streak. Aryna Sabalenka took advantage, breaking Pegula’s serve in the fourth game of the first set and maintaining her momentum to close it out with an unreturnable serve.
In the second set, Aryna Sabalenka’s powerful forehands earned her another break in the opening game. Though Pegula managed to break Sabalenka’s serve once, the Belarusian immediately broke back. She then sealed the match with a forced error from Pegula, blowing kisses to the crowd in celebration.
Aryna Sabalenka’s performance in Cincinnati, where she didn’t drop a single set—including against world number one Iga Swiatek—has erased any doubts about her status as a favorite for the US Open. Despite a shoulder injury earlier this season that forced her to miss Wimbledon, she now seems poised for a strong run in New York after finishing as the runner-up last year.
After the match, Aryna Sabalenka thanked her team, saying, “We’ve been through a lot, but we never stopped working, never stopped improving ourselves. I’m really happy to have you by my side.”
Pegula added a light-hearted moment during the trophy ceremony. She mistakenly called Aryna Sabalenka “Serena” in an earlier interview and joked, “It felt like Serena today with the way you were serving there. I might have preferred Serena over Aryna.”
With the US Open just around the corner, Sabalenka’s victory in Cincinnati has solidified her position as one of the most formidable players in women’s tennis. All eyes will be on her as she heads to Flushing Meadows, seeking to claim her first US Open title.
