Aryna Sabalenka just sent out a signal ahead of the year’s last major in New York by using her potent serve to defeat American Jessica Pegula 6-3, 7-5 and win the Cincinnati Open on Monday.
The twice Australian Open champion overcame nerves late in the second set to win her sixth WTA 1000 title. She dropped just nine points on serve and hit ten aces in the match.
After reclaiming her title in Toronto earlier this month, Pegula looked well, but her nine-match winning streak came to an end when she struggled with her serve, making five double faults.
In an on-court interview following her semifinal, Pegula mispronounced the Belarusian’s name as Serena rather than Aryna. On Monday, she joked that the mix-up with the 23-time Grand Slam champion was appropriate.
Pegula talked about it and said: “First congrats to Aryna. Andrew said ‘Aryna’ and I thought he said ‘Serena.’ But it felt like Serena with the way you were serving today. I don’t know. I may have wanted Serena with the way you were serving today.”
Jessica Pegula after losing to Sabalenka in Cincinnati final:
“First congrats to Aryna. Andrew said ‘Aryna’ and I thought he said ‘Serena.’ But it felt like Serena with the way you were serving today 😂. I don’t know.. I may have wanted Serena with the way you were serving… pic.twitter.com/XEDA7nnMI7
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 19, 2024
Aryna Sabalenka in 2024
WWWWWWWWWW Currently ranked no.2, Sabalenka played her last match on the 19th of August when she beat world no.6 Jessica Pegula 6-3 7-5 in the final in Cincinnati to win her 15th career title.
Presently, during this year Sabalenka has achieved a compiled 39-11 match record. The Belarussian has won 2 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open and Cincinnati. The Belarussian got to the final in Brisbane, Madrid and Rome.
Aryna Sabalenka will face the world no.323 Petra Kvitova in the final on Saturday at 6:00 pm on CENTRE COURT. Their record is 3-2 for Kvitova.
The Belarussian conquered 2 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open and Cincinnati. The Belarussian was the finalist in Brisbane (Brisbane International), in Madrid (Mutua Madrid Open) and in Rome (Internazionali BNL d’Italia).
Sabalenka won 15 titles in her career: 11 on hard courts, 2 on clay courts and 2 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
Jessica Pegula in 2024
WWWWWWLWWW Now ranked no.6, the American played her last encounter on the 19th of August when she was overcome by world no.2 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 7-5 in the final in Cincinnati (draw).
Currently, during this season the American has a 30-11 record. The American has won 2 titles in 2024 in Berlin and Toronto. The American was the runner-up in Cincinnati.
Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula played each other 7 times. Their current head to head is 5-2 for Sabalenka. Previously, the last time they competed against each other, Aryna Sabalenka won 6-3 7-5 in the final in Cincinnati (Western & Southern Open) on the 19th of August 2024.
Here are the highlights.
