Aryna Sabalenka famous after defeating Jessica Pegula of the United States in the Miami Open Women’s Women’s final. (Al Bello)
The world number one Aryna Sabalenka headed for Miami Open on Saturday, beating American Jessica Pegula 7-5 6-2 at the WTA 1000 event at Hard Rock Stadium.
The title was the first in Bélarus in Miami and his second of the season after his January triumph in Brisbane.
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Having lost the final at Indian Wells against Mirra Andreeva Russian, 17, earlier this month, Sabalenka was determined not to fall to the last obstacle again.
“I am super happy to have this trophy, I was able to play my best tennis in the final,” said Sabalenka, who paid tribute to Pegula’s performance after repeating her victory over her in the US Open US Open final last year.
The two players struggled to maintain their service in the first set, which saw seven service breaks, Pegula causing problems in Sabalenka when she brought her to the net.
But the momentum changed when Pegula was used to stay overall at 6-5 and Sabalenka lit it, producing a delicate drop of law, then a superb winner of the line to take the set.
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Once she recovered from her breakup during her first service game in the second set, it was easier to go for Sabalenka, whose offer for a third consecutive Australian open title was thwarted in the Melbourne final by Madison Keys earlier this year.
Sabalenka broke twice to go 3-1 and never looked in danger from that moment when she concluded the victory in an hour 27 minutes.
“I think I could completely forget (it’s) the final, the external things and I was so focused on the game,” said Sabalenka.
In her last 14 games against the best 10 players, Sabalenka won 12 and she credited her capacities in the clutch for her record.
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“These are the key moments of the match, playing aggressiveness and staying with the match plan, taking photos without being afraid of losing the point,” she said.
It was the third time that Pegula has faced Sabalenka in a final and she lost three times.
“I consider myself one of the best players in the world, but it is probably the best,” said Pegula after the match.
– Increase your level –
“She continues … Increase her level in key moments of the match when she needs it, and I have the impression that it was the big difference today and the last times I played it,” she added
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But Pegula, the world number four, said that she was happy to have been a serious competitor again in a tournament.
“Happy to be in another grand finale of 1000 and to have coherent results and to continue to go to tournaments. The reason why we play is to get a good chance of winning these events. I have been able to do it these last two weeks,” she said.
Sabalenka, 26, won eight WTA 1000 titles and 19 titles on the WTA tour in the general classification – of which 17 came on difficult terrains, including his three Grand Chelem titles – the Australian Open 2023, the Australian Open 2024 and the US 2024.
She looks a calmer and more concentrated presence in court than in her previous seasons when she was capable of rage lighting when things have become difficult.
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“I think that before, every time I lost my service, a match, I could simply lose the match because I would still think of this first game,” she said.
Sabalenka said his difficulties in the past with his service had allowed him to develop a stronger versatile game and a more positive mentality.
“When I struggled with my service, I had to push myself on the return and I had to play with something else. So now, every time I lose (serve), I know that I have weapons, that I can come back and that I can break,” she said.
“I think this challenge really helped me be more focused and not going too crazy on the field after losing a match on my service,” she added.
The male final of Sunday will feature Novak Djokovic against Jakub Mensik, 19 Czech, with the Serb in search of his 100th professional title.
SEV / BB
