MASON, Ohio, USA (AP) – Ash Barty has recovered from a disappointing loss to Olympic gold medalist Alexander Zverev still in tune after his dedication in Tokyo.
Both will perform at a high level at the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the season that will begin in a week in New York.
Barty confirmed his status as a top captain by winning his fifth title of the season on Sunday. The Australian has won eight of his last nine matches against Swiss Gilles Teichmann to win 6-3 6-1 in the Western and Southern Open final.
Zverev also finished quickly in the Cincinnati final. He won the first four games with his head to achieve a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Russian Andrey Rublev, the seventh in the world.
The match lasted 58 minutes, in a less strenuous effort for Zverev after a three-set battle he fought on Saturday night to defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas.
“It’s been an exciting week,” said German Zverev. “It’s a nice feeling to be heading to New York.”
“The US Open is a week everyone is looking forward to. Novak (Djokovic) will be back and he will be the favorite. The other competitors are in good shape. I am looking forward to that week. We will see how it goes. A lot of work awaits me. I have to find my rhythm.”
Barty, who won her first Wimbledon tournament in July before faltering in the third round of the Tokyo Games, didn’t drop one set in four games in Cincinnati, and needed nothing more than a tiebreaker.
“It’s been an incredible week,” Barty said. “I feel like game by game I’m improving in all aspects of my game,” said Barty. “The good thing is that I’ve put together several matches in tough conditions with a vision for New York.”
The Western & Southern Open moved last year to Flushing Meadows, the US Open complex, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tishman stunned to reach the final in Cincinnati, leaving second-seeded Naomi Osaka, Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic, and fourth seed Karolina Pliskova on her way.
“That’s where you belong,” Partey told Tichmann during the post-match party. “I’ve played exceptionally well this week.”
Barty broke Tishman’s serve to lead 5-3 in the first set, then won the next six games.
In the second heat, Tishman received medical attention in his right foot, which was covered with heavy bandages.
“I am very happy for my week,” Tishman said. “Today I had all the desire to win, but Ash was just superior.” I’ve reached her level.”
Zverev only made five non-compulsory fouls and put his mark on Rublev 5-0 – each winning in straight sets. Rublev admitted there were trust issues facing his friend, whom he had known since he was 11 years old.
“You need to win at least once to find out exactly what to do,” he said. “When you lose point by point, it is not easy. The game becomes more mental. The important thing is not the game. You need to find the key to act internally as it should to play these confrontations because you own the game.”
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