Jessica Pegula makes claim about Serena Williams and Aryna Sabalenka during her runners-up speech in Cincinnati

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Jessica Pegula was so impressed with Aryna Sabalanka’s performance that she compared her to Serena Williams.

The American was attempting to become the first woman since Evonne Goolagong in 1973 to win both the Canada and Cincinnati titles in the same season.

But despite having the crowd on her side, Aryna Sabalenka, the new World number two, was too strong and she claimed a 6-3, 7-5 victory in 76 minutes.

This is just Aryna Sabalenka’s second trophy win of the season and she has triumphed in Ohio for the first time in her career.

Jessica Pegula compares Aryna Sabalenka’s serve to Serena Williams after Cincinnati Open final

After successfully defending the Canadian Open title, Jessica Pegula kept her momentum going with a run to the Cincinnati Open final.

Despite playing some of her best tennis of the year this week, Pegula was unable to stop the rampant Sabalenka, who claimed her first WTA 1000 trophy of the year.

One of Sabalenka’s biggest strengths was her serve, as she won 91% of points behind her first serve and 65% behind the second delivery.

Pegula was so impressed with Sabalenka’s serving performance she compared her to Serena Williams, who many believe has the greatest serve of all time.

“First congrats to Aryna. Andrew said ‘Aryna’ and I thought he said ‘Serena.’ But it felt like Serena with the way you were serving today,” Pegula said during the trophy presentation. “I don’t know.. I may have wanted Serena with the way you were serving today.”

Aryna Sabalenka wins her second title of 2024 at the Cincinnati Open

Pegula found herself behind after her serve was broken in the fourth game of the first set.

She went on to lose set one, and found herself a break down in the second as Sabalenka served for the match at 5-4.

But the 30-year-old battled back and levelled the set at 5-5, but the Belarusian did not panic and reclaimed the break of serve before successfully serving for the championship at the second attempt.

Sabalenka celebrated by blowing kisses to the American crowd and proudly lifted the trophy aloft.

During what has been a difficult summer for the Australian Open champion, she is finding her form just in time for the final Grand Slam of the year, the US Open.