Alert: Sabalenka defeats Pegula to win WTA Cincinnati title

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the No 3 seed, won the Western & Southern Open trophy by defeating American Jessica Pegula, the No 6 seed, 6-3, 7-5 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati on Monday.

Earlier in the tournament, Sabalenka, ranked No 3, beat Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto (6-3, 6-4), Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (7-5, 6-2), Russian Liudmila Samsonova, the No 10 seed (6-3, 6-2) and Pole Iga Swiatek, the top seed (6-3, 6-3).

Pegula, ranked No 6, beat Karolina Muchova (5-7, 6-4, 6-2), qualifier Taylor Townsend (6-2, 6-3), Canadian Leylah Fernandez (7-5, 6-7 (1), 7-6 (3)) and Spaniard Paula Badosa (6-2, 3-6, 6-3) in the previous rounds of the Cincy Open.