Sabalenka wins first title since Australian Open

Aryna Sabalenka won her first title since January's Australian Open by powering past Jessica Pegula successful nan last of nan Cincinnati Open.

The Belarusian needed 76 minutes to wrap up a 6-3 7-5 triumph for nan 15th title of her profession and her sixth astatine WTA 1,000 level.

The consequence ended a nine-match winning streak for American Pegula, who defended her Canadian Open title past week.

"This trophy intends a lot, it is simply a really large achievement, particularly coming aft injury, pinch this fearfulness of getting injured again," Sabalenka, who missed Wimbledon pinch a enarthrosis injury, said successful her courtside interview, broadcast by Sky Sports.

"My squad did everything they could to make judge I felt arsenic bully arsenic I tin and I americium proud of myself I was capable to grip each of those emotions."

Sabalenka, who will switch Coco Gauff arsenic nan caller world number two, cruised done nan first group aft getting nan break successful nan 4th game.

She suffered a flimsy blip erstwhile serving for nan title astatine 5-4 successful nan 2nd group arsenic sixth seed Pegula collapsed backmost to level.

But nan two-time Grand Slam champion recovered, striking again earlier and serving retired nan triumph and blowing kisses to nan crowd successful celebration.

The 26-year-old, who defeated world number 1 Iga Swiatek successful nan semi-final, will return to action astatine nan US Open which starts connected 26 August.