Ash Barty has added a fifth piece of silverware after defeating wildcard Jil Teichmann to claim the Cincinnati Open.
Barty won nine of the last 10 games to storm home to a 6-3, 6-1 win to continue her title-winning run this season, following victories in Melbourne, Miami, Stuttgart and her maiden Wimbledon title back in July.
The victory overwrites the world No. 1's disappointing first-round exit in the women's singles event at the Tokyo Olympics and marks the perfect build-up to next week's US Open.
After beating Angelique Kerber in the semi-final Barty had her work cut out against Teichmann, who was the surprise of the tournament when she upset World No.2 Naomi Osaka, Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic and fourth-ranked Karolina Pliskova en route to the final.
Tied at 3-3 in the first set, Barty found another level, firing eight aces and breaking Teichmann five times, and only enduring two break points against her young Swiss opponent to take the straight-sets victory.
“I think being able to come through and play a really clean week and walk away with the title is probably not what I really expected of myself, but (it’s) certainly nice,” Barty said post-match.
Barty did not drop a set in Cincinnati and will go into the US Open chasing her third major title as the hot favourite.
The Aussie didn't play at last year's US Open but hasn't reached past the fourth round at Flushing Meadows so far through her career.
