⁍ Aryna Sabalenka won the inaugural J&T Banka Ostrava Open on Sunday.
⁍ Sabalenka beat compatriot Victoria Azarenka 6-2 6-2.
⁍ It was the first all-Belarusian WTA final.
⁍ Azarenka needed a medical timeout in the second set.
– Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka won the inaugural J&T Banka Ostrava Open and the first all-Belarusian WTA final on Sunday. Third seed Victoria Azarenka, who has been in top form since tennis resumed following its pandemic-enforced hiatus, needed a medical timeout in the second set and ended up losing the match in 68 minutes, reports Reuters. “I want to first of all congratulate Aryna and her team on a good week,” Azarenka said. “It was my pleasure to play against you in the final, unfortunately not in the best way. Thank you everybody and please stay safe. I also want to just say hi to my baby boy Leo.” Sabalenka had to twice battle back from the brink of defeat—first against American Coco Gauff and then against Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo—to reach the final, but showed no sign of the inconsistencies that have often dogged her on the big stage. She dominated from behind the baseline with her trademark powerful groundstrokes, running away with the match after breaking early in each set. The world number 12 wrapped up the one-sided affair with an unreturnable serve out wide and celebrated her seventh WTA career singles title and second of the year with a fist pump and a kiss blown to the heavens.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tennis-prague/sabalenka-outguns-azarenka-to-win-inaugural-ostrava-open-idUSKBN27A0OP