Sabalenka wins Linz title

Final decided in Linz.

2020 Upper Austria Ladies Linz - a WTA International tournament, on Hard, Deco Turf on wood, in Linz, Austria, 9-15 November 2020.

2019 champion (not defending):

Lucky loser CoCo Gauff who defeated Jelena Ostapenko 6-3 1-6 6-2

Final:

Aryna Sabalenka (1) (Belarus) v Elise Mertens (2) (Belgium)

Sabalenka led Mertens 3-2 in their head to head battle coming into the Linz final, the most recent meeting being August this year, where in Dubai Sabalenka won a round of sixteen match in straight sets.

In Linz, the pair exchanged service breaks early, then Mertens had to survive break points in both the sixth and eighth games. 

Against the run of play, Mertens broke the Belarusian serve to be a game away from the set, but couldn’t capitalise, and Sabalenka levelled at 5-5.

In the longest game of the match, the top seed led 40-15, but failed to convert either of the two game points. Deuce was visited seven times and three break points saved before Sabalenka held for a 6-5 advantage.

Mertens fell behind 15-40, and Sabalenka used the first of two set points to lead 7-5.

In set two Sabalenka broke to lead 2-0, and saved two break points to lead 4-1. A love game put the top seed within one game of victory, and another break of serve gave her the title. Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elise Mertens 7-5 6-2 to capture the Linz trophy, her eighth WTA title from 12 finals, and her third of 2020.

The victory moves Sabalenka back into the top ten at the expense of Serena Williams.