Aryna Sabalenkova’s bid to regain the Australian Open title is in full swing, with the women’s world number one winning the Brisbane International in straight sets on Sunday night.
Sabalenkova defeated Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-3 to claim back-to-back titles in Brisbane in a clinical performance that bodes well for her bid for a fifth Grand Slam singles title in Melbourne from next week.
Aryna Sabalenka celebrates winning a point against Marta Kostyuk.Credit: Getty Images
Sabalenkova got right into the game when she broke Kostyuk on serve in the Ukrainian’s first game and led 3-0 in the opening set after just 12 minutes.
Kostyuková was able to break back to 3-3 after a shaky start when she served under pressure, but Sabalenkova grabbed a late break to take the first set 6-4 in 39 minutes.
Kostyuk’s campaign in Brisbane had been phenomenal up to that point, with the world No.26 defeating three top-10 players – Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva and Amanda Anisimova – en route to the final.
But when the second set started much like the first, with Sabalenka jumping out to a 3-0 lead and taking advantage of Kotyuk’s weaker second serve, it was a matter of when, not if, Sabalenka would secure the lead.
Sabalenka took just 1 hour and 18 minutes to close out the match as Kostyuk joined Karolina Muchova, Madison Keys and Sorana Cirstea on the list of players Sabalenka dropped en route to victory.
The women’s world number one is looking for redemption in Melbourne after losing to Keys in last year’s final and will head into the year’s first Grand Slam undefeated.
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