Zverev's only minor hiccup came as he was broken while serving for victory leading 5-2 in the second set.

But he closed out the convincing win a game later with a timely break back as Rublev found the net with a return.

"Until the end I was playing pretty good tennis," Zverev said. "I didn't do a big celebration at the net as Andrey and I have been best friends since we were 11 or 12.

"With my Olympic gold and this fifth Masters I'm really looking forward to New York."

Stellar run

Although she doesn't leave Cincinnati with a trophy, women's runner-up Teichmann departs after a sensational week.

The world No 76 beat three top-12 players, including four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, fourth seed Karolina Pliskova and Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic of Switzerland.

But she had no answers as Wimbledon champion Barty stretched her WTA Tour-leading match win tally this season to 40.

"I'm very happy with my week, today I wanted to win, but Ash was just too good," she said. "I felt like I was there in the first set, but suddenly the first set was gone. She stepped up her level in the second－she was too good."

Barty played a near-impeccable match against a first-time Masters-level finalist, losing serve only once as she served for victory.

The top seed quickly corrected course, breaking Teichmann back in the final game to clinch the title in 71 minutes.

Barty, who didn't drop a set all week, said she hadn't expected her run to the title to be so seamless after she had played only the Olympics since Wimbledon.

The double Grand Slam champion will on Monday start her 83rd consecutive week at the top of the world rankings.

The win in her 19th career singles final gave Barty a 13th trophy, including seven from her last eight appearances in finals.

AFP