Aryna Sabalenka wins maiden WTA Tour title at Connecticut Open
Sunday 26 August 2018 09:14, UK
Rising star Aryna Sabalenka won her first WTA Tour title with victory over Carla Suarez Navarro at the Connecticut Open in New Haven.
The Belarusian has been one of the break-out stars of the season and will leap into the world's top 20 on Monday following her 6-1 6-4 success against Spaniard Suarez Navarro.
Sabalenka arrived in New Haven full of confidence after reaching the semi-finals in Cincinnati last week, claiming two top-10 scalps, and she has continued to steamroller her opponents.
"I am so happy with my first title," Sabalenka said. "This is a great feeling.
"In the first second you are so happy, then you understand, 'I have to work more because the next year I have to do it again'. This is how I feel right now.
"I didn't have some [career] plan. I was just, like, 'keep going, keep fighting'. Now I am 20 years old and I have my first title, so... it's okay.
"I'm so happy that I got one title. I will just work more, just to try to keep going, keep showing my best tennis, and we will see."
The 20-year-old proved far too powerful for Suarez Navarro, hitting 29 winners and dominating the Spaniard's second serve as she eased to victory in an hour and 13 minutes.
It was Sabalenka's first win in her third final after losing to Maria Sharapova in Tianjin last year and Caroline Wozniacki in Eastbourne.
The victory will only increase Sabalenka's status as a dark horse for the US Open and, seeded 26th, she will play her opening match on Tuesday against American Danielle Collins.
