Barty collects 5th title of the year

Final in Cincinnati.

2021 Western & Southern Open - a WTA 1000 tournament, on Hard, in Cincinnati, Ohio, 16-22 August 2021.

Event held last year in New York City due to COVID-19

Defending champion: 

Victoria Azarenka who received a walkover from wildcard Naomi Osaka (4) in the final.

Final:

Ashleigh Barty (1) (Australia) v wildcard Jil Teichmann (Switzerland)

This was the first meeting between the two players.

Jil Teichmann had appeared in three WTA finals before, winning two, both in 2019 - Prague and Palermo.

Ashleigh Barty had previously won 12 titles from 18 finals, including 2019 Roland Garros and this year’s Wimbledon.

Both had yet to drop a set in reaching the 2021 Western & Southern Open final.

Teichmann had to save a break point in her opening service game after a double fault and a couple of Barty forehand winners had her in trouble, but she survived. 

It was easier in the fourth game, where the Swiss player showed off some winners of her own and levelled at 2-2.

Barty held comfortably for a third time and 3-2.

Serving at 3-4, Teichmann fell victim to the Australian’s slice backhand and was broken. Barty then calmly served out the set, including a brilliant drop shot/running forehand combo, and ace to seal it 6-3.

In the opening game of set two, Teichmann saved three break points, but couldn’t save a fourth.

It was the same in game three - Barty converted the fourth break point with delightful net play to lead 3-0.

Teichmann took a medical time out. 

After the timeout, a love game from Barty and another break of the Teichmann serve left the top seed just a serve away from the title.

Serving for it, Barty was down 15-40, saved one break point, but not the next, and Teichmann trsiled 1-5.

Serving to stay on court a little longer, Teichmann hit a great stop volley, then an ace, to lead 30-15. However a double fault, followed by a Barty forehand which couldn’t be countered, left the top seed with match point.

A long forehand from Teichmann saw the match finish and Ash Barty win 6-3 6-1, collecting the Western & Southern Open title, her fifth trophy of the year.