Ash Barty is the 2021 Western and Southern Open champ after beating Switzerland’s Jil Teichman 6-3, 6-1 in one hour and 13 minutes. The world No.1 hit 28 winners and fired 8 aces in the win while Teichmann produced 26 unforced errors.
“It’s been an awesome week and I felt like each match I was getting better and better in most parts of my game,” said Barty. “Today against Jil (Teichmann) I felt I could really trust myself, go after the ball and play with confidence and be aggressive which was going to be important in a final.”
After holding serve it was the world number one who immediately put pressure on the Swiss but she would be able to save the first breakpoint of the match and hold her opening service game. The first set stayed on serve until 4-3 when Barty had two more chances to break and was able to get the crucial break of serve to serve out the opener.
The Aussie continued to pressure Teichmann’s serve and in the first game of the second set, she had four chances to take an early lead and managed to convert once again on her fourth breakpoint.
Once again after consolidating the break the world number needed four break chances and secured a double break lead. Then at the next changeover, the Swiss called the physio and took a medical timeout for a blister on her foot.
Barty continued to dominate and after consolidating another break of serve broke again at love to take a commanding 5-0 lead but when serving for the match and the title was broken to extend the match.
It only lasted one more game as Teichmann was broken once again and at 30-40 sent a ball long. Enabling Barty to secure the win and the title in Cincinnati. After the match, Barty spoke about her decision to not go to Montreal last week.
“It was always in our plans not to go to Montreal particular after the big load that came from Wimbledon and adding the Olympics on top of that,” she said. “Obviously I wanted to play the Olympic games incredibly badly for me as a person and for my heart and to play for Australia was something.’
“I never wanted to give up that opportunity and I was a little bit tired after that because it was a big month and to listen to my body and take that rest certainly put me in good shape this week”.
Barty has reached six finals in 12 tournaments played and has won five of them.
