Sabalenka crowned back-to-back champion in Brisbane

8 hours ago 1

Aryna Sabalenka’s charge to reclaim the Australian Open title is well under way, with the women’s world No.1 winning the Brisbane International final in straight sets on Sunday night.

Sabalenka defeated Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-3 to claim back-to-back titles in Brisbane in a clinical performance that bodes well as she attempts to win her fifth grand slam singles title in Melbourne from next week.

Aryna Sabalenka celebrates winning a point against Marta Kostyuk.

Sabalenka was straight down to business as she broke Kostyuk in the Ukrainian’s first service game to go 3-0 up in the opening set after just 12 minutes.

Kostyuk was able to wrangle the break back to make it 3-3 after a shaky start that saw her serve come under pressure, but Sabalenka snagged a late break to take the first set 6-4 in 39 minutes.

Kostyuk’s campaign in Brisbane had been phenomenal to that point, with the world No.26 defeating three top 10 players – Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva and Amanda Anisimova – on her way to the final.

But when the second set started much like the first, as Sabalenka surged to a 3-0 lead and took advantage of Kotyuk’s weaker second serve, it was a matter of when, not if, Sabalenka would secure the championship.

It took just 1 hour and 18 minutes for Sabalenka to wrap up the match, as Kostyuk joined Karolina Muchova, Madison Keys and Sorana Cirstea on the list of players Sabalenka tossed aside on her way to victory.

Ukrainian fans in the crowd at the women’s Brisbane International final.

Kostyuk ignored Sabalenka – a Belarusian player – in her runners-up speech, instead taking the time to thank her own team, tournament organisers and volunteers before focusing on the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“I want to say a few words about Ukraine,” she said.

“I play every day with a pain in my heart and there is thousands of people who are without light and warm water right now, it’s minus 20 degrees outside, so it’s very, very painful to live this reality every day.

“It’s very hot here in Brisbane, so it’s difficult to imagine this, but my sister is sleeping under three blankets because of how cold it is at home, so I was incredibly moved and happy to see so many Ukrainian fans and flags this week too.”

Sabalenka began her victory speech by acknowledging her opponent.

“First of all, I want to start with congratulating Marta and her team on an incredible start to the season,” she said.

“I wish you all the best this season – it seems like it’s going to be great tennis and I hope that we’re going to meet each other many more times in the finals to show great tennis.”

Sabalenka is seeking redemption in Melbourne after losing to Madison Keys in last year’s final, and will head to the first grand slam of the year undefeated.

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