Ash Barty will head to the 2021 US Open with momentum on her side after destroying Jil Teichmann, 6-3, 6-1, in the Western & Southern Open final on Sunday. Barty needed just one hour and 13 minutes to record the straight-sets win and capture her WTA Tour-leading fifth singles title of the year.
Barty has now won a whopping 40 matches this season, the first female player to hit that mark this year. Many were expecting a much tighter contest in the final, given Teichmann was 4-0 in her career against top 10 players before this contest.
Barty's excellent first serve the key in title win
Barty's serve, however, neutralized Teichmann's threat, with the Australian top seed recording eight aces and winning 85 percent of points behind her first service. She also broke Teichmann's serve five times, leading to the blowout victory at the end.
Barty took control of the match in the middle stages of the opening set, winning eight consecutive games to turn a 3-3 score in the first set into a comprehensive 6-3, 5-0 advantage in no time. Teichmann showed some resistance, breaking Barty's serve to stay alive in the match for the first time. Her comeback was short-lived, though, as the Australian broke back immediately, converting her first match point with Teichmann pushing her forehand long.
Ash Barty Dominates in Cincinnati Masters Final
— 10 News First Queensland (@10NewsFirstQLD) August 22, 2021
Barty won the final 6-3 6-1 against Swiss Jil Teichmann to claim her fifth title of the year.
In doing so, she became the first Australian since Evonne Goolagong Cawley to win the tournament, a feat the legend managed in 1973. pic.twitter.com/q1JSUuMQYi
With the win, Barty continued her streak at the top of the world rankings to 83 weeks as she consolidated her status as the overwhelming favorite for the year's final Grand Slam tournament, which will start on August 30 in New York.
Barty has already won two major titles in her career, including this year's Wimbledon Championships. She also won the bronze medal in mixed doubles at the recently held Tokyo Olympics. Barty will be looking to advance past the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the first time.
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Barty praises Teichmann after dream run in Cincinnati
Teichmann might have fallen short in her bid to win her first WTA title, but it was still a fantastic run by the Swiss player, who entered this event as a wildcard. The 76th-ranked player in the world made a giant-killing spree in this tournament, defeating Top 5 players in Naomi Osaka and Karolina Pliskova, and Olympic champion Belinda Bencic on her way to the final.
In her victory speech, Barty paid tribute to Teichmann, saying that this is the level where she belongs and that it was nice to see the 24-year-old play her best tennis this week. Barty pointed to her trophy in closing, saying to Teichmann, "I know over the next few years, you'll win many of these."
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