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Sabalenka claims her second straight Brisbane title

Aryna Sabalenka. Photo courtesy of wtatennis.com

MINSK, 11 January (BelTA) – Belarus’ world number one Aryna Sabalenka has clinched her second straight Brisbane title, BelTA has learned.

In the decisive match, the world’s top-ranked player defeated World No. 26 Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.

In the first set, the Ukrainian player offered very serious resistance, but the Belarusian ultimately won it. The second set unfolded more easily for Sabalenka, and she won with a two-point advantage. The Belarusian’s stats included one ace and no double faults. The final match lasted one hour and 19 minutes. It marks the 22nd title of her career.

On her path to the final of this tournament, Sabalenka did not drop a single set to her opponents. She defeated Spain’s Cristina Bucșa (World No. 50) 6-0, 6-1; Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea (41) 6-3, 6-3; USA’s Madison Keys (7) 6-3, 6-3; and the Czech Republic’s Karolína Muchová (20) 6-3, 6-4. A year ago in the Brisbane International final, Aryna Sabalenka won against Russia’s Polina Kudermetova, while in the 2024 final, she lost to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina.

Another Belarusian tennis player, Aliaksandra Sasnovich (113), won in the round of 64 against Russia’s Anna Blinkova (61) 7-5, 6-1. She was stronger than Denmark’s Clara Tauson (14) in the second round, winning 6-3, 6-3, but lost in the round of 16 to Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova (17) 4-6, 4-6. Sasnovich had entered the main draw through the qualifying rounds, defeating Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova (128) 6-2, 6-2, and Uzbekistan’s Maria Timofeeva (138) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

The Brisbane competition served as one of the final rehearsals before the first Grand Slam tournament of the new season - the Australian Open. The upcoming Australian Open will take place in Melbourne on 18 January–1 February.

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