BELARUSIAN Aryna Sabalenka has claimed her sixth WTA 1000 title after defeating red-hot American Jessica Pegula in the Cincinnati Open final overnight. The world number three – who will rise to second after the title – held her nerve even after failing to serve for the match once, recollecting herself and getting the job done two games later in the 6-3 7-5 victory.

Sabalenka looked in control for the most part against Pegula who was coming off a WTA 1000 title herself in Toronto. Entering the match with a nine-game winning streak, the American was hoping to make it back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in her home nation. However the Belarusian had other idea, and went a break clear in the fourth game which proved enough to take out the first set.

Now a set up, Sabalenka kept the foot down early in the second set, breaking Pegula in the opening game of the set, then held to love to move to 2-0. She would serve for the match at 5-4 up, only to be broken for the first time and Pegula cling to hope of a turnaround. However Sabalenka immediately broke back and held to serve out the match 6-3 7-5 in an hour and 15 minutes.

The victory meant Sabalenka has now won more WTA Tour matches at Cincinnati (18) compared to any other tournament outside Grand Slams. It was a clinical performance on serve, dropping just three points off her first serve – and nine in total – while producing 10 aces off a 67 per cent clip.

“I really couldn’t have wished for more, it was a really great day at the office,” Sabalenka said post-match. “Just super happy with the level I played in the final and I was able to get this title. It’s really important going into the US Open.”

Pegula admitted there was little she could do out there, and compared Sabalenka’s serving performance to that of Serena Williams.

“Funny, Andrew said ‘Aryna’ and I thought he said ‘Serena’, but it felt like Serena today with the way you were serving there,” Pegula said post-match. “I don’t know, I may have wanted Serena instead of Aryna today.”

The American did not play badly, winning 67 per cent of her first serve points off a 59 per cent clip, while only conceding five break points herself for three Sabalenka conversions. The only look-in Pegula got was in the 10th game of the second set which she took, but ultimately could not find a way to penetrate Sabalenka’s serve consistently.

Pegula has moved up to seventh in the Race to the WTA Finals after her Toronto title and Cincinnati final, one of four Americans inside the top eight spots to qualify. Sabalenka moved up to two in the race overtaking Elena Rybakina, while leapfrogging Coco Gauff in the overall rankings. Pegula is just eight points off fifth spot which is currently held by Italian Jasmine Paolini.

“Incredible couple weeks,” Pegula said. “Unfortunately, too good from Aryna today. I mean, she was playing at a really high level, and it didn’t seem to come down. And I had some chances at the end, but wasn’t able to do it.

“But yeah, I’m really proud of myself for the last couple weeks for the level I’ve been able to display, playing a lot of matches, and I think proving to myself that I can win a lot of matches in a row and be able to handle a lot of different challenges, with the conditions in different cities and courts and everything.”